Dragons of Fame

Cetus

History: The Greek gods created Cetus, a monstrous sea dragon with the head of a greyhound, the body of a dolphin, and a forked tail. Cetus only obeyed Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea and storms, known to the Romans as Neptune. As a monstrous minion of one of the most powerful Greek gods, Cetus struck a tremendous among of fear in the hearts of any port-dwelling Greek, and he often served as a potent punishment for a harbor or ship.

Queen Cassiopea, wife of Cepheus, the King of Joppa (referred to in some myths as Ethiopia), boasted that she and her daughter Andromeda were the most beautiful creatures of all the world. She dared to say that her daughter's beauty surpassed even that of the Nereids.

The Nereids were sea nymphs, specifically the fifty daughters of Nerus and Doris. They often worked with Poseidon. When they heard of Cassiopea's taunts, the Nereids became furious and went to the sea god to end the matter.

Poseidon sent Cetus to terrorize Joppa to punish the Queen for her mistake. When Cepheus approached the god to ask how amends might be made, Poseidon ordered him to chain his daughter Andromeda to a rock near the sea for Cetus to devour her. In spite of his love for his daughter, Cepheus did as ordered to save his kingdom from further torment from Cetus.

The young hero Perseus, however, saw the young maiden chained to a rock. After falling in love with her and learning of her plight, he could not allow the sea dragon to have her. Perseus had already slain the gorgon Medusa, and, still having her head, he used it as a weapon. He turned her eyes on Cetus, who instantly became a pile of stone and died before he could reach Andromeda.¹

Physical Description: He had the head of a greyhound, body of a dolphin, and a forked tail. He is often depicted with pieces of him sticking up from the water rather than his entire body be showing. In some more recent depicting of the monster, he has whale-like attributes.

1. A Diversity of Dragons by Anne McCaffrey

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