Aegean Sea Summer 600 BC
The Story of Maimou – from Aesop’s fabels
It happened once upon a time that there was a certain Greek ship, the Ticheros, bound for Athens. The proud, stalwart captain was an experienced commander who always brought his pet monkey, Maimou along for good luck. It was the custom for sailors to bring lap dogs, parrots and other pets on the long voyages for companionship and entertainment. Maimou, being the captain’s own good luck charm, was dressed in small sailor’s pants and vest and had the run of the ship. He was always fed on the good fruit and nuts that were typically only fed to the men. He would often taunt the other animals by pulling their tails or stealing their meals of old bread and table scraps then throwing the food overboard. Never fearing repercussions for his cruel mischief he would race back and climb to safety on the captain’s shoulder. Maimou would chatter and mock the other animals from his elevated position as the captain stroked his soft brushed fur saying, “You’re my lucky boy Maimou”…..“Lucky boy”, thought Maimou.
One terrible night just before dawn a tempest arose in the Aegean Sea. The wind and waves were tossing the ship in a violent rage. Maimou shrieked and ran to hide inside of the captain’s foot locker as the Ticheros began to rock and sway. The captain fought valiantly but without luck. His ship was wrecked off the coast close to Piraeus, a port of Athens. Maimou and the footlocker were tossed into the crashing waves where the box quickly began to take on water and sink. Soon Maimou was struggling to swim while grasping for splinters of floating wood.
All sea faring men and women know that dolphins are the friends of sailing folk. Dolphins have for centuries welcomed and guided the many vessels that crossed the seas. They could not, unfortunately, avert this vessel’s danger in the dark of night. However, since the dolphins were friendly, especially towards Athenians, they were quick to arrive and help save the men from perishing in the turbulent sea. The Dolphins took the shipwrecked people on their backs and swam with them to shore saving as many human lives as they could.
A strong female Dolphin who had already delivered two sailors to safety, saw the monkey struggling in the water, she thought it was a young man or child and did not hesitate to act. She could see that the small form was losing its struggle against the great fierce waves. She rocketed through the swirl of the ship’s wreckage to reach him before he sank into the watery depths. Just as Maimou was descending into the dark murky sea, the dolphin dove down and circled back up pushing the nearly drowned monkey to the surface with her nose. They broke the water’s surface with a mighty surge that sent Maimou soaring into the air and back down with a splash. She instructed the bewildered monkey to climb up on her back. Then off she swam with him toward the shore.
As Maimou regained his clarity of mind he realized that he had once again been spared misfortune on the back of a stalwart protector. The Monkey sat up, grave and dignified, on the Dolphin's back thinking how it was only reasonable that he should be saved while “those animals” had likely drowned. After all he was surely the “Lucky boy”.
After they had cleared the ships debris and were en route to the coast, Maimou put his hand up to shield his eyes the way he had seen the sailors do so often aboard the Ticheros as they scanned the horizon looking for land. “You are a citizen of illustrious Athens, are you not?" asked the Dolphin politely.
Maimou looked down with some surprise realizing who was speaking. Thinking to himself how it would be important to answer this animal carefully he took a deep breath while looking at the back of his hand in a kind of preoccupied indifference and answered, "Yes, my family is one of the noblest in the city."
"Indeed," said the Dolphin who was surprised at the air of entitlement the peculiar creature displayed. Most of the other sailors were humble, full of gratitude and not nearly so hairy. So, the dolphin continued, "Then of course you often visit Piraeus."
Without hesitation the monkey replied, "Yes, yes, Indeed, I do. I am with him constantly. Piraeus is my very best friend." At that Maimou straddled his rescuer like a horseman kicking her sides with his heels and pulling mercilessly on her dorsal fin. “Go faster, fish”, he exclaimed! I have important duties to attend to”.
This surprising answer and the monkey’s arrogance astounded the dolphin. Upon turning her head, the dolphin now saw clearly what it was she was carrying. Realizing her mistake, she dived and left the foolish monkey to take care of itself, while she swam off in search of some human being to save. Maimou struggled as he saw the dolphin’s wake receding in the water towards the broken ship. “Come back you stupid fish, or my friend, Piraeus, will serve you for dinner” he said. Flailing in the water and grasping out for any floating debris that might save him, Maimou spotted something from the corner of his eye and blindly reached out for it. When his hand returned his panicked eyes saw that it was only some old bread and table scraps floating in the waves.
