Concept:
—In all myths, dolphins represent the merciful side of the deep and dangerous ocean.
Marine Concept:
—Dolphins were land mammals that long ago chose to return to the sea. X-rays of dolphins’ flippers show vestigal hand bones.
Objectives:
—For students to become familiar with a Greek myth, an important basis of some of today’s beliefs.
—To increase the student’s knowledge of the natural environment.
—For students to see that the Dionysus myth helped the ancient Greeks to explain the dolphin’s cheerfulness, intelligence and apparent love of people (dolphins once were men).
—For students to see that since in the myth, evil men were transformed into good dolphins, the dolphin represents redemption.
Teacher Preparation:
—Teachers locate and read the Homeric Hymn to Dionysus(20)
—Teachers borrow accompanying slide show from the Yale New Haven Teachers Institute Office to show picture of the Dionysus Cup created by Exekias about 540 B.C.
Materials:
—Homeric Hymn to Dionysus
—Accompanying slide show
Procedure:
—Have students read aloud the Homeric Hymn to Dionysus.
—Show appropriate slides or pictures.
—Lead discussion emphasizing concepts and objectives of this lesson plan.
—Time required is about one to two days.