Apatura metis, the Freyer's purple emperor, is a species of butterfly found in the Palearctic.

[1] Freyer's purple emperor has dark wings with reddish and yellow bands.

However, it differs significantly from it by a stepped protrusion in the middle of the outer edge of the postdiscal band of the hindwings.

The species is divided into seven subspecies: Freyer's purple emperor usually inhabits forests and is often found nearby rivers and streams.

In Europe, Freyer's purple emperor usually has one, sometimes two generations, the first in May and June, the second in July and August.