About the end of the 2nd century, the dolphin began appearing in Christian art. Its legendary qualities of intelligence, devotion, friendliness, and feats of life-saving had already earned it the title of "Sailor's Friend." The dolphin was believed to rescue drowning sailors and guide lost ships into harbor. Some pagans believed dolphins guided the soul into the afterlife. Others believed it to be a divine messenger. Early Christians saw in the dolphin's saving actions towards those in despair a similarity to Christ's ability to save shipwrecked souls and guide the church through temptation and persecution to final salvation.
The dolphin was often substituted for the whale in paintings of Jonah and the whale. Therefore, it also became associated with rebirth and Christ's resurrection according to the scripture "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Mt 12:40).
Drawn with an anchor, the dolphin represents alternately, the Christian soul anchored by Christ's teaching and guidance or Christ Crucified. Shown with a boat, it symbolizes the Christian or Church being guided by Jesus. If entwined around a trident, the dolphin portrays Christ Crucified. When pictured with an octopus, the dolphin shows Christ triumphing over Satan.
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Comments© 1997 by Suzetta Tucker
To cite this page:
Tucker, Suzetta. "ChristStory Dolphin Page." ChristStory
Christian Bestiary. 1997. http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/dolphin.htm
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