''For other uses of the name Ceto see
Ceto (disambiguation)''

Ancient Corinthian vase depicting
Perseus,
Andromeda and Ketos. Note the usage of
Epsilon instead of
Eta in ΚΕΤΟΣ, the employment of the letter
San instead of
Sigma in ΠΕΡΣΕΥΣ and ΚΕΤΟΣ.
In
Greek mythology, 'Ceto', or 'Keto' (
Greek: Κητος, ''Ketos'', "sea monster") was a hideous aquatic monster, a daughter of
Gaia and
Pontus. The
asteroid (65489) Ceto is named after her, and its satellite
(65489) Ceto I Phorcys after her husband.
She was the personification of the dangers of the sea, unknown terrors and bizarre creatures. Eventually, the word "ceto" became simple shorthand for any sea monster. It is still used in this way -
cetacean is a derivation. Her husband was
Phorcys and they had many children, collectively known as the
Phorcydes or Phorcydides.
In
Greek art Ceto was drawn as a serpentine fish. Ceto also gave name to the
constellation Cetus.
Consorts/Children
#
Phorcys
##
Echidna
##
Gorgons
###
Euryale
###
Medusa
###
Sthenno
##
Graeae
###
Deino
###
Enyo
###
Pemphredo
##
Ladon
##
Scylla
##
Sirens
##
Thoosa
In Jonah 2:1 (1:17 in English translation), the Hebrew text reads dag gadol (דג גדול), which literally means "great fish." The LXX translates this phrase into Greek as ketos megas (κητος μεγας). The term ketos alone means "huge fish," and in Greek mythology the term was closely associated with sea monsters. (See http://www.theoi.com/Ther/Ketea.html for more information regarding Greek mythology and the Ketos.) Jerome later translated this phrase as piscis granda in his Latin Vulgate. However, he translated ketos as cetus in Matthew 12:40.
Another figure named 'Ceto' is an
Oceanid, daughter of
Oceanus and
Tethys