Procris Character Analysis in Metamorphoses

Procris is Cephalus’s wife. Over the course of their marriage, Procris gifts Cephalus a fast-running hunting dog and a magic spear that always meets its target. Procris dies tragically after a miscommunication in which she thinks Cephalus is cheating on her with a nymph when he is actually speaking lovingly to the wind. Cephalus, thinking Procris is an animal, accidentally kills her with his spear.

Procris Character Timeline in Metamorphoses

The timeline below shows where the character Procris appears in Metamorphoses. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Cephalus tells Phocus the story of the spear. A while ago, Cephalus married Procris, the sister of Orithyia. Procris was beautiful, and Cephalus was very happy with her. A... (full context)

...look like a different man. When Cephalus enters his house, he finds no sign of Procris’s infidelity. When Procris comes up to him, he longs to kiss her and reveal his... (full context)

Procris resents Cephalus for his trick and joins Diana’s clan of chaste women. Cephalus is still... (full context)

Cephalus tells what happened to the hunting dog that Procris gave him: one day, a ferocious fox attacks Thebes, causing the citizens to fear for... (full context)

Cephalus then tells the story of the spear: Cephalus and Procris are deeply in love and very happy together. In the mornings, Cephalus goes hunting by... (full context)

...the trees nearby. Thinking it is a wild animal, he launches his spear. He hears Procris cry. He finds her and clutches her dying body, trying to staunch the wound in... (full context)