The legend of Arethusa and Alphaeus

It is said that long ago the young and beautiful nymph Arethusa lived free in the woods of Greece along with other nymphs and Artemis, goddess of the hunt.
One day, while she was hunting a fawn, waiting for it behind an imposing poplar, she found herself isolated from the other nymphs.

Alpheus, a young shepherd, was also there. He was enchanted by the beauty of the nymph and tried to approach her to talk to her.

Indifferent, Arethusa first walked away, but then realized that the young Alpheus did not give up, she became afraid and fled; the young man did not give up and began to chase her until the nymph stopped at the end of her strength.

At that point Arethusa invoked the help of Artemis who immediately turned her into a clear spring that, through underground channels, flowed towards Sicily.
When she reached the island of Ortigia, now far from her pursuer and certain of being safe, she gushed from the surface as a clear spring and then poured into the sea.
The young shepherd Alphaeus, desperate, raised his arms to the sky and asked for the help of Zeus.

His prayer was not in vain: Zeus took pity on him and turned him into a river whose waters, pouring into the Ionian Sea, could reach those of his beloved Arethusa, embracing her for eternity.

Source: Francesco Purpura, “Myths and legends of Sicilians and Sicanians”, Trinakria Editrice (2010)