archaicwonder:Ancient Sea Monster Coins, C. 510-480 BCOn the obverse of these Greek tetrobols from t
archaicwonder:Ancient Sea Monster Coins, C. 510-480 BCOn the obverse of these Greek tetrobols from the ancient city of Kindya in Caria is the head of a sea monster known as a ketos with its tongue protruding. On the other side is a geometric pattern within an incuse square.In Greek mythology, both Perseus and Herakles killed a ketos (Latin cetus). When Cassiopeia boasted that her daughter Andromeda was more beautiful than the Nereids, this invoked the wrath of Poseidon who sent the sea monster Cetus to attack Æthiopia. Upon consulting a wise oracle, Cepheus and Cassiopeia were told to sacrifice Andromeda to Cetus. They had Andromeda chained to a rock near the ocean so that Cetus could devour her. Perseus found Andromeda chained to the rock and learned of her plight. When Cetus emerged from the ocean to devour Andromeda, Perseus managed to slay it. In one version, Perseus drove his sword into Cetus’ back. In another version, Perseus used Medusa’s severed head to turn Cetus to stone.Kindya was an ancient town in Caria about 12 miles southwest of Milas (ancient Mylasa, map). It was of some importance in the 5th century BC, when it paid one talent in the Delian Confederacy, but later in the 3d century BC, Kindya was absorbed into the city of Bargylia. Herodotus (5.118) mentions a Pixodaros, son of Mausolos of Kindya, presumably an ancestor of the Hekatomnids. Strabo (658) speaks of it as no longer existing. The city was chiefly notable for its principal deity, Artemis Kindyas, whose temple was believed to be immune from rainfall; she later became a chief deity of Bargylia. -- source link
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