Dolphin Tales
Written by Jeremy Davie, MMF Volunteer
For as long as humans have been living near the ocean, we’ve been fascinated by marine mammals. Cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) have featured prominently in the folklore of cultures throughout the world. These stories range from the wonderful, to the weird, to the downright scary!
To celebrate the spooky season this year, let’s explore some of these tales and what they say about our relationship with these amazing creatures.
Across myths and legends, cetaceans are often depicted in three main ways:
1. Metamorphosis and Reincarnations
Dolphin Fresco in the palace at Knossos, Crete, (ca, 1600BC)
Humanity is bursting with stories of dolphins transforming into people, and vice versa. For the ancient Greeks, dolphins were a symbol of femininity and the womb and also served as messengers for Poseidon, the god of the sea. They were often thought to represent the vital life force of the sea, and were even considered to be reincarnated humans. Closer to home, many Indigenous dreamtime stories depict dolphins as sacred animals. For some tribes hunting dolphins was forbidden, as the stories explained that dolphins housed dead souls that would help guide people to land. Whales and dolphins also commonly appear in the creation stories of Indigenous tribes that describe humans descending from dolphins. In the Americas, some peoples believed that Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) were able to transform into men. So convincingly, in fact, that they were able to have children with humans!
2. Helpers
A whale tail representation of Tūtarakauika ( a Māori water spirit) carved by Todd Couper of the Ngāti Kahungunu tribe
Dolphins were commonly depicted as metaphors for a friendly divine power. In Greek mythology, dolphins served as messengers to Poseidon, god of the sea. In another ancient Greek myth, the Italian town of Taranto was said to have been founded where dolphins brought a rescued sailor to shore after his ship sank. In Christianity, dolphins are often depicted alongside Jesus Christ protecting man from the troubled waters of life, shepherding them to shore and washing them clean of their sins. Dolphins were also known to be friends to fishermen, helping herd fish into their nets in return for a cut of the catch in the Mediterranean and in Australia. Perhaps most prolific of all are stories of people riding dolphins and whales. For example, Māori culture describes ancestors arriving in New Zealand on the backs of whales. Stories such as these are represented in modern pop culture in films like Whale Rider (2002).
3. Monsters
Seascape with Jonah and the Whale c. 1653-4, by Gaspard Dughet
While dolphins are near universally beloved, larger cetaceans such as whales and orcas were sources of terror for certain historical cultures. Cetaceans in fact get their name from Cetus, a giant sea monster from Greek mythology. Medieval and renaissance maps often featured illustrations depicting horrific creatures that were said to sink ships using their incredible size. In the Bible, Jonah was swallowed by a sea monster, often depicted as a whale, for three nights before being spat out. Perhaps the most well known depiction of these fears in western culture is the story of Moby Dick, the man-eating ‘white’ whale known to destroy ships.
Humans have shared a rich history with cetaceans, a relationship that is evolving to this day. As we learn more about these animals, our respect and appreciation for them grows further and further, not only as keystone species in vital global ecosystems, but also as intelligent and complex creatures. Their broad presence within the folklore and history of cultures around the world is a testament to their importance in our environment, and provides a unique insight into how our understanding of dolphins, whales and porpoises has developed over the years.