| Author |
 Replies: 9 / Views: 6,875 |
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Edited by TNG
11/05/2013 12:19 pm
|
|
|
|
Moderator
 Australia
16826 Posts |
The sea creature looks to me like a heraldic representation of a dolphin. In heraldry, a dolphin is usually portrayed in a very fish-like fashion. Example on Wikipedia. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10284 Posts |
Thank you Sap, you are always helpful. Do you think this might be relatively modern? By the seam on the edge it looks cast to me and the bezel looks cast right into the mold as well. The thing about it is I have never seen another and it is a neat lucky charm for aboard my boat. That's the name of my boat, I am quite superstitious. I had pretty good luck last year, well not very much bad luck anyway. I also agree it is a dolphin so I changed the topic title.
Edited by TNG
11/05/2013 12:20 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2490 Posts |
The boy riding the dolphin could indicate Eastern Mediterranean origin (of the original design at least).
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Thank you alganbagerap with the Mediterranean hint, I found this and more info. http://www.sacred-texts.com/lcr/fsca/fsca68.htmIn the legend of Tarento, Phalantus, heading the PatheniƦ, was driven from Sparta and shipwrecked off the coast of Italy, and escaped on a friendly dolphin's back to Tarentum. We learn from Aristotle that the youthful figure seated on the dolphin, which is the most common type on the coins of this city, was intended for Taras, a son of Poseidon, from whom the city is said to have derived its name.Project Gutenberg's Fictitious & Symbolic Creatures in Art, by John Vinycomb This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org |
|
New Member
United States
1 Posts |
Hello The Nickle Guy! I have a coin or medal just like the one you have with the guy riding the dolphin. Yours is the only other one I have seen. I'm going to be uploading some images for you to see. Then we can swap some information.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Apparently this is probably a souvenir from a vendor in Greece for tourists maybe anytime in the last 70 years. Most likely sooner than later. I happened to finally find a very similar bottle opener and several other mythological themes on bottle openers but have never seen this thing of mine exactly. Mine does not have Made in Greece stamped on it. I still like it for a good luck charm on my boat.  |
|
New Member
United States
1 Posts |
I just wanted to add, the symbol of a dolphin and anchor was often used throughout history as a visual representation of one of my favorite adages to 'make haste, slowly'. In Greek, the saying is (speude bradeos - the forum doesn't allow unicode/greek characters), and in Latin it is Festina Lente.
It is an oxymoron, basically another way of conveying the idea to proceed with caution in English. The anchor obviously represents going slowly, and the dolphin represents moving swiftly [through the waters of life].
The motto is used by some military organizations, and according to Wikipedia "It has been adopted as a motto numerous times, particularly by the emperors Augustus and Titus, the Medicis and the Onslows." and "The emblem of the dolphin and anchor which has been used since Roman times to illustrate the adage." (taken from the Wikipedia page for "Festina Lente")
Really awesome medal - I hope this information helps you to appreciate the symbolism more!
Edited by DeeCoin
07/03/2017 5:25 pm
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Well ... wasn't that nice? Very nice of you DeeCoin! Thank you. and  to the CCF community. Quite an entrance! |
|
Moderator
United States
34407 Posts |
Interesting update to this old thread. Thanks (and welcome) @deecoin!
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
|
| |
Replies: 9 / Views: 6,875 |
|
Posted 11/05/2013 12:06 pm
