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Cephisus

Mythology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

River god whose waters flowed through Boeotia and Attica. Father of Narcissus by the nymph Liriope, and of other mythological figures tied to central Greek river systems.

Detailed Definition
Cephisus is a significant river deity whose waters nourished regions tied to major myths. He fathered Narcissus, Thetis, and others, linking him to themes of reflection and beauty. Poets invoke Cephisus to symbolize the life-giving yet deceptive nature of water, often in pastoral or psychological poetry exploring self-perception and desire.
Example
Example in poetry:
Cephisus, river god and father of Narcissus, appears in Ovid and Pausanias; Poets invoke Cephisus to ground myths in Boeotian landscape; “Cephisus’ son” (Narcissus) links river and self-reflection; His waters symbolize deceptive clarity; In pastoral verse, Cephisus offers serene or ominous flow imagery.
Additional Notes
Cephisus, river god of Boeotia and Attica, fathers Narcissus (with Liriope), whose self-love leads to his demise. Other children include Thalia (Grace) and Praxithea. As a source of both beauty and danger, Cephisus embodies the duality of water—life-giving yet deceptive. Poets use him to explore origins, reflection, and the fluid boundaries between self and other.
Also Known As
Kephisos
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