YES.
Whales and
Dolphins do have much in common. You are wrong however if you think that whales are always much larger than dolphins. Many whales are very large indeed, but whales come in many different species and sizes, as do dolphins, some of which can be larger than the smaller whale species.Robert Baldwin, who first came to this region in 1988 has spent much of his working life here. He has now produced a book entitled Whales and Dolphins of Arabia published by Shell Representative Office, Oman, as part of a programme to preserve the local environment.The photographs are superb, but this is very much more than a coffee table picture book which is pleasant to glance at in an idle moment. There is a passionate interest in the
role that whales and dolphins have played in art and folklore from ancient days. Whales and dolphins have been the subject of countless fables, myths and
legends throughout the ages. Their images are represented worldwide in paintings, sculptures, pottery, mosaics, coats of arms, and even on coins.The word "dolphin" comes from the Greek delphis, meaning "womb', reflecting the Greeks belief that the dolphin was a symbol of birth and renewal. They also saw the dolphin as highly intelligent and gave it
spiritual significance. A temple at Delphi in Greece is dedicated to a dolphin god.A whale depicted as a sea monster features in the Holy Quran, which tells the story of the Prophet Younis, who was swallowed by a whale as a punishment for evil acts. Praying for forgiveness, he was set free and taught an object lesson in true mercy. The author also described the important role of whales in the life of Arab mariners, who were among the earliest great seafarers.Whale material was used in the
construction of ships some five thousand years or more ago when
Whale fat was applied in the construction of boats made of reed to weld the reeds together to stop the boat from leaking. Dolphin teeth were traded in the area of the Strait of Hormuz, and both whales and dolphins were hunted for food.There are many legends about dolphins in Arabia and world wide. In the era of the French monarchy, the heir to the throne was called Le Dauphin, in recognition of the nobility of the species. Australian aboriginals and first nation peoples in North America sung spiritual songs about the role of the dolphin. Some Arabian fishermen still see whales as messengers of good fortune and there are many whale and dolphins stories attached to the legendary Sinbad of Sohar.
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