Keos Island
Location of Kea Island
The island was famous for its mines of a red ochre known as "Kean miltos." Red oche corresponded to blood and life powers in general.
The first settlement on the island dates to 3300 BC. Another settlement at Agia Irini dates to the third millennium and flourished for 1500 years. By 2000 BC this settlement was fortified and the island became more Minoan until the Mycenaeans invaded Greece. The town was destroyed at around 1500 BC and from that point on the settlement of Korissa, the current port, became more important.
From the 12th Century the island was colonized by Ionians from the mainland and known as Keos. By the 6th Century four independent cities were formed, known as Karthea (top print), Korissia, Ioulis, Poiessa. These cities had individual political structures though they would cooperate with each other in matters of foreign policy and security. Ioulis was inland while the other three cities sat on bays and sheltered harbors. They traded with civilizations as far away as Egypt and developed their art and culture. (from https://www.greektravel.com/greekislands/kea/history.html)
Karthaia Today On Kea Island
This chart of Keian coinage shows coins having Sirius on their reverse side had a long history all through the 300's BCE. The letter assignments given to this coin on the chart are slightly incorrect being given as KAP'AY
Chart by Kenneth Sheedy in his review of the article of Kia by Charickleia Papageorgiadou, vol 24, 1967 published by the Athens research center. Online at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/42668563
Life Guiding Powers of Star Sirius 300's BCE
(September 13, 2023, updated March 10, 2025) Image is of the star Sirius. The coin was found on Keos Island in the Aegean.
Sirius was the sun’s companion star and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It was thought to lead the rising sun in summer. Because it is the sun’s companion it is also called the “dog star.” Sirius represents the interaction between the life powers (sun) and the motion powers from planetary motion and emotions (amplified by wine).
Translation in Akkadian (Med Text 30.1)
(Read right to left. Capital letters on seal. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verb is italic bold)Letters are Aegean Island
- Lu A Re'u AYu
(Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration)
In English.
- Lack can result from the shepherding of Ayu
Comment: Ayu was the crescent moon goddess who edited the life network represented by the sun/storm god Hu. So this coin is supporting the life shepherding of Sirius over that of Ayu.