Caria. Kindya circa 510-490 BC.
Tetrobol AR

12 mm, 1,69 g

Head of ketos to right / Geometric pattern within incuse square.

Very Fine

SNG Kayhan 813-4.

In ancient Greek mythology, a "ketos" (plural: ketoi) refers to a sea monster, often depicted as a giant sea serpent or a creature with a combination of fish and serpent features. The concept of the ketos was prevalent in Greek mythology and art, and it had a significant presence in various stories and legends. One of the most famous tales involving a ketos is the story of Andromeda. According to the myth, Andromeda, the daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia of Ethiopia, was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a ketos. The sea monster was sent by the god Poseidon in response to Cassiopeia's boasting that her daughter was more beautiful than the Nereids (sea nymphs). Andromeda was later rescued by the hero Perseus, who slew the ketos and saved her from her fate. Ketoi were often associated with the perils of the sea and represented the dangers that sailors and travelers faced while navigating treacherous waters. They were also symbolic of chaos and the untamed forces of nature.