Cetus (mythology)

Ancient vase motif depicting the Greek hero Perseus fighting a Cetus sea serpent.
Ancient Corinthian vase depicting Perseus, Andromeda and Ketos (Names are spelled in the archaic Corinthian variant of the Greek alphabet).
Ancient Greek mosaic in Kaulon of a cetus sea serpent.

In Ancient Greek ketos (κῆτος, plural kete/ketea, κήτη/κήτεα[1]), Latinized as cetus (pl. ceti or cete = cetea[2]), is any huge sea monster.[3] According to the mythology, Perseus slew a cetus to save Andromeda from being sacrificed to it. The term cetacean (for whale) derives from cetus. In Greek art, ceti were depicted as serpentine fish. The name of the mythological figure Ceto is derived from kētos. The name of the constellation Cetus also derives from this word.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference sheldon-williams was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference hunter was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "κῆτος" in Liddell, Henry and Robert Scott. 19406. A Greek-English Lexicon. Revised by H.S. Jones and R. McKenzie.. Oxford: Clarendon Press.