Prokris

Prokris is the original Greek form of the name Procris, which appears in Greek mythology. The name is thought to derive from the Greek word prokrisis (πρόκρισις), meaning “preference” or “choice.” In myth, Prokris (or Procris) was an Athenian princess, the third daughter of Erechtheus, king of Athens, and his wife Praxithea. Her story is recounted by various ancient sources, including Homer’s Odyssey, where the spirit of Procris is glimpsed among the dead in the Underworld.

Mythology

According to the mythographer Pherecydes of Athens, Procris's husband, Cephalus, son of King Deioneus of Phocis, once decided to test her fidelity by staying away from home for eight years. During this time, he sent her rich gifts to entice her, but she remained faithful. Other versions, such as that of Ovid in the Metamorphoses, tell of a tragic misunderstanding: Cephalus, when resting from hunting, would call out for a breeze (in Greek Aura), and a jealous informant reported to Procris that he called for another woman. Procris, suspicious, followed him into the woods and was accidentally killed when Cephalus mistook her movement in the bushes for an animal and threw his unerring javelin.

The story also intertwines with the goddess Eos (Dawn), who fell in love with Cephalus and abducted him. When he remained loyal to Procris, Eos eventually let him go but planted seeds of doubt in his mind about his wife's fidelity, leading to the tragic test. Later accounts include a lost tragedy by Sophocles entitled Procris and other cyclic poems, demonstrating the enduring fascination with this mythological figure.

Cultural Significance

Procris serves as a paradigmatic figure of loyalty and tragic misunderstanding in Greek mythology. Her name, possibly reflecting “preference” or “choice,” may allude to her having to choose between faith and suspicion. Her story has been reinterpreted in later literature and art, often as a cautionary tale about marital jealousy. As a minor but memorable figure, Prokris is part of a rich tapestry of female characters in Greek myth whose lives are shaped by divine and human passions.

Key Facts

• Meaning: “preference” (from Greek πρόκρισις)
• Origin: Greek
• Type: First name (female)
• Usage: Greek mythology