Semi-plastic representation of a winged boy on a dolphin
In ancient times the dolphin was popular in general, in Greece it was even protected. It was considered an attribute and symbol of Neptune, which was depicted with a dolphin in hand or under one's feet. Tarent, Messina, Gades and other cities carried a dolphin as a landmark. Some antiquity coins show dolphins and trident. In art and literature he appears as a popular motif.
Ancient poets described that his behaviour revealed unselfish love for people. It was regarded as a symbol of humanity. The Greek chronicler Herodotus handed down the story of Arion, a poet and singer of Methymna on Lesbo's 600 BC. When Arion was robbed and forced to jump into the sea by robbers on his way from Taranto to Corinth, a dolphin carried him on his back to Cape Tainaron.
The pragmatically thinking Romans saw the useful side and roasted sausages from dolphin meat.
This semi-plastic relief dates back to 440 BC.
