Cephalus

Cephalus was a wealthy metic and arms manufacturer living in Athens. His father was Lysanias from Syracuse.

He came in Athens on invitation of Pericles, probably in the late 450s in order to enhance the industrial productivity of the city. The majority of metics (free resident aliens who lived permanently in the city) had come to Athens to benefit from its “economic miracle”, and usually were involved in trade. Cephalus lived in Athens for 30 years. During that time he established a successful shield factory that employed over a hundred of slaves by 404. That manufacturing business produced the battle shields for the Athenian infantryman engaged in the Peloponnesian War and represented the largest industrial section of that time. This business brought him a fortune, and he was the head of the wealthiest metic household in Athens.

Cephalus also engaged in dialogue with Socrates in Plato's Republic. He was the father of orator Lysias, philosopher Polemarchus and Euthydemus.