cephalus

Cephalus is a term with both historical and linguistic uses. Its etymology traces to the Greek kephalē, meaning “head,” and the Latinized form cephalus has appeared in various contexts as a masculine given name.

In classical literature, Cephalus is a notable figure in Plato’s dialogues. He is an elderly, wealthy Athenian whose discussion with Socrates about justice opens one of the central investigations of the Republic. The character is used to illustrate initial, common-sense notions of justice before the arguments unfold more abstractly through Socratic questioning.

Linguistically and scientifically, the root cephal- is used widely to denote relation to the head. In many technical terms, the form is cephal- or cephalo-, as in cephalopod (a class of mollusks with prominent heads and tentacles), cephalalgia (headache), and cephalometry (measurement of the head). The standalone noun cephalus is uncommon in modern scientific vocabulary, but the root appears in numerous compounds and in some historical or literary names.

In taxonomy and onomastics, Cephalus may appear as a proper name in ancient texts or as a genus or epithet in various classifications, though such usages are distinct from the general semantic field of “head.” Overall, cephalus serves as a linguistic origin for words related to the head and as a classical personal name in philosophy and literature. See also hydrocephalus, cephalopod, cephalometry, and Cephalus in Plato.