Basic Information

Type/Species: Sea Serpent
Slayer: Perseus
Origin: Greek Mythology, Roman Mythology

About Cetus

Cetus was a predatory sea monster, terrifying and fierce. Zeus or Poseidon created the dragon as punishment [2] for Cepheus and Cassiopea, the royal couple of Joppa [3] because Cassiopea boasted that she and her daughter Andromeda were more beautiful than the goddesses and the Nereids, [1] or sea nymphs. [2] Depending on the source, either the Nereids petitioned Poseidon for retaliation [3] or the gods demanded it. [2]

Poseidon flooded their land, [3] putting the entire kingdom in peril, [1] and he sent Cetus, the sea-monster, to Philistia. [3]

Cepheus consulted the Oracle of Ammon and learned that his only hope was to sacrifice his daughter to Cetus. [3] In another version, the demand of sacrifice came directly from Poseidon, [1] and the gods compelled Cassiopea to chain her daughter to the rocky shores for the monster. [2] In all versions, Andromeda was left, chained to a rock, waiting for Cetus to consume her. [3]

At this same time, Perseus traveled through Ethiopia, [1] flying on his winged boots. [3] On his journey, he discovered Andromeda, alone and bound by the sea, and he fell in love with her. [1] He went immediately to her parents [1] to ask them for her hand in marriage [3] in exchange for which Perseus promised to slay Cetus and rescue Andromeda. [1]

Once they agreed, [3] Perseus took up his adamantine sickle and flew back to the shore. There he met with the sea dragon Cetus and decapitated him. [1] In another version, Perseus used the freshly removed head of the Gorgon Medusa to turn Cetus to stone. [2] Perseus rescued Andromeda, and they married shortly afterward. [3]

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Physical Description

Cetus was variously described as a sea monster [1] or sea serpent. [3] Other versions describe Cetus as a monster with the head of a greyhound and the body of a whale or dolphin and a divided, fan-like tail. [2]

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Quick Facts

  • Cetus was a terrifying sea monster. [2]
  • Poseidon or Zeus sent Cetus [2] to punish Cepheus and Cassiopea. [3]
  • He put the entire kingdom in peril. [1]
  • The only way to appease Poseidon was to sacrifice Andromeda to Cetus. [1,2]
  • Perseus slew Cetus either by decapitating him [1] or turning him to stone with the head of the Gorgon Medusa. [2]
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Related Articles

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Term Reference

Cassiopea
n. In Greek mythology, she was the Queen of Ethiopia, wife of Cepheus, and mother of Andromeda.
Cepheus
n. In Greek mythology, he was the King of Ethiopia, husband of Cassiopeia, and father of Andromeda.
Poseidon
n. The Greek deity of the sea who commanded sea monsters and created earthquakes.
 
Roman equivalent: Neptune
Zeus
n. The Greek god of the sky and thunder who ruled over the gods and Mount Olympus.
 
Roman equivalent: Jupiter
X
Cassiopea n. In Greek mythology, she was the Queen of Ethiopia, wife of Cepheus, and mother of Andromeda.
close
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Cepheus n. In Greek mythology, he was the King of Ethiopia, husband of Cassiopeia, and father of Andromeda.
close
X
Poseidon n. The Greek deity of the sea who commanded sea monsters and created earthquakes.
 
Roman equivalent: Neptune
close
X
Zeus n. The Greek god of the sky and thunder who ruled over the gods and Mount Olympus.
 
Roman equivalent: Jupiter
close
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Footnotes

  1. National Geographic [Essentials] 181
  2. Rose [Dragons] 74
  3. Turner 52

For more information on footnotes and references, please see the bibliography.

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