The illustration below is inspired by a famous fresco from Knossos, Crete, the “Dolphins fresco”.

Extraordinary animals! Dolphins also appear in ancient Greek art and mythology, as having a close relationship with humans, and often helping them. Several stories of dolphins rescuing humans exist on newspapers too, and studies have been carried out to explore their behaviour. Examples of it are numerous – and this applies to rescuing individuals of their own species and other animals as well. From forming a life raft to help a dying friend to assisting a finless porpoise calf, dolphins provide several examples of care-giving (re)actions.

Without surprise, humankind is particularly interested in this kind of behaviour, often seen as curiously similar to our own peculiar way of feeling “human”; by caring of each other.

Artist: Kayla D. Younkin

A Minoan fresco with sealife such as fish and dolphins

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Credit: Kayla D. Younkin & Open Past

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