The myth is an aetiological story explaining the reason behind the goddess Aphrodite as worshipped under the epithets Automate and Epidaetia in Ephesus.
The young Meliboea lived with her parents in the city of Ephesus, an ancient Greek colony on the western coast of Asia Minor.
[1] Heartbroken over the news, Alexis decided to embark on a self-imposed exile and leave from Ephesus forever, while Meliboea stayed behind.
On the day the maiden was to be married to her betrothed, she decided to take her life and jumped off the roof of her house, but this failed and she landed on the ground uninjured.
[3] By the will of the gods the boat brought Meliboea to the land where Alexis was living, while he was holding a feast for friends, and the two lovers were finally reunited and allowed to marry.