Dolphin — pirates

This article is about an animal. You may be looking for the pirate ship of the same name.

"His altar was a statue of him ridin' a bloody dolphin. Ironic or not, a sea god can swim... He doesn't need a dolphin."

―Hector Barbossa on Palaimon^[src]

A dolphin was an aquatic mammal. They were closely related in the toothed whale, ranged in size, and had streamlined bodies and two limbs that were modified into flippers. Dolphins were widespread, with most species preferring the warm waters of the tropic zones, but some prefer colder climates. They feed largely on fish and squid, but a few feed on large mammals such as seals. Dolphins produced a variety of vocalizations, usually in the form of clicks and whistles.

History

Dolphins have long played a role in human culture and have been depicted in various cultures worldwide. Dolphins were common in Greek mythology, with coins and statues from ancient Greece having featured a man, a boy or a deity riding on the back of a dolphin. Ironically, Melikertes, who became the powerful sea god Palaimon in Greek mythology, had an altar of riding a dolphin, despite not being able to swim.^[1]

By the Age of Piracy, dolphins were among many creatures that resided in the high seas and near the coast of multiple islands, performing various stunts near ships, and coastlines, such as flips in the air, and diving below water.^[2] When the East India Trading Company merchant ship the Wicked Wench sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to the legendary island of Kerma, one of the passengers, Princess Amenirdis, saw several dolphins leap alongside the ship, free as the wind.^[3] At least one pirate ship was given the name Dolphin.^[4] During the quest for the Shadow Gold, after the Wicked Wench became the pirate vessel Black Pearl, sleek dolphins darted around Jack Sparrow's crew search for the Deep Sea Opal, inviting them to play, and dolphins splashed cheerfully around a merchant ship.^[5]^[6] At some point during the quest to lift the curse by Captain Hector Barbossa and the crew of the Black Pearl, they came across the wreckage of a Spanish fishing vessel called the Delfin (Spanish for "Dolphin"), where they found the dolphin-riding sea god Palaimon, a mysterious castaway who claimed to be taken prisoner after being attacked by the Spanish Armada.^[1]

Behind the scenes

Dolphins were first referenced in Fluch der Karibik, the 2006 German novelization of the 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl by Wolfgang and Rebecca Hohlbein.^[7] While dolphins made their first appearance in the 2007 computer game Pirates of the Caribbean Online,^[2] they were removed before 2008, and eventually brought back in the fan-made recreation The Legend of Pirates Online.^[8] The term "Delfin" (Spanish for "Dolphin") first appeared in the "...Strangers Bearing Gifts" comic.^[1]