Dolphin, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Dolphins are remarkable creatures, known for their ability to follow human voices or gather in groups at the sound of music. They are the fastest swimmers in the sea, often leaping gracefully past ships. When they frolic in the waves, their playful jumps are said to predict coming storms. Interestingly, a special type of dolphin, called simones, can be found in the Nile River. These dolphins have serrated backs and are known for their ability to hunt crocodiles and kill them by cutting through their soft underbellies. The Nile dolphin was allegorically associated with the battle between good and evil. The dolphin’s victory over the crocodile, a dangerous and sinister creature, symbolized Christ's triumph over sin, death, and the devil. Just as dolphins were thought to save shipwrecked sailors, Christ is seen as the saviour of humanity, guiding souls to salvation.

Delfines certum habent nomen. quod voces homi-
num sequantur vel quod ad simphoniam grega-
tim conveniunt. Nichil in mari velotius istis. nam ple-
rumque naves salientes transvolant. Quando autem
ludunt in fluctibus et undarum se mollibus saltu pre-
cipiti feriunt; tempestates significant. Hii proprie sal-
mones nominantur. Est et delphinum genus in nilo flu-
mine dorso serrato qui cocodrillos tenera ventrium
secantes interimunt;

Dolphins have a particular name, for they follow human voices or they gather in groups at the sound of music. Nothing in the sea is faster than dolphins, for they often go past ships as they leap. However, when they play in the waves and throw themselves with a swift leap into the water, they predict storms. They are properly called simones. There is also a species of dolphin in the Nile River with a serrated back, which kills crocodiles by cutting through their soft underbellies.

Further Reading

David Badke, The Bestiary Blog: Animals in the Middle Ages, Dolphin, November 6 2023, https://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast284.htm

Josh Goldenberg (BA 2012) and Matt Shanahan (BA 2014, Logeion, November 2022, https://logeion.uchicago.edu/

Castiglioni, L. and Mariotti, S. (1996). Vocabolario della Lingua Latina: Latino-Italiano Italiano-Latino. Terza Edizione. Loescher Torino

Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Wikipedia: The Elephant, 28 November 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant

Matthews, J. and Matthews C., (2010), The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures, HarperCollins UK, London

Curley, M. J., Physiologus: A Medieval Book of Nature Lore (University of Chicago edition 2009)

Rackham, H., M.A., Pliny Natural History Volume III, Libri VIII-XI (London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1949)

Collins, A. H., M.A., Symbolism of Animals and Birds (New York: McBride, Nast & Company, 1913)

Henderson, C., The Book of Barely Imagined Beings (London: University of Chicago Press, 2013)

White, T. H., The Bestiary: A Book of Beasts (New York: G.P Putnam’s Sons, 1960)

Barney, S. A., Lewis, W. J., Beach A., Berghof O., The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006)