The origins, development and uses of the working and sporting dogs in ancient times. From Mesopotamia and Greece to Rome
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In this video we have tried to make a compendium of the existing information about work and sport dogs in ancient Rome. It was necessary to start the investigation with the use of dogs by previous civilizations due to their influence. For generating a synthetic content, we focused more than anything on the first influences and on the neighboring peoples of Rome, with which it shared the Mediterranean sea in many cases. Also we had no space to talk about all the breeds that descend from Roman dogs, focusing more on their direct descendants.
Some anecdotes that were left out were, for example, those of North African peoples, such as the Garamante tribe, of which Pliny the Elder tells us that a king was “taken from exile by 200 hunting dogs, who fought against those who tried to oppose him.”
Also worth mentioning is the rich history of the use of dogs by the Celtic peoples, the Gauls, the Irish and the British.
Also another topic for which we did not have enough space, was the interesting topic of the symbolic meaning of the canis family by the ancient peoples of the Italian peninsula and Greece. Another case of a tribe with great influence was that of the Alans, a tribe of the Sarmatians that had encounters with the Roman Empire and that on occasions provided it with cavalry in northern Europe, settled among other places in Spain in 406. AD. This peoples were famous for its dogs, and these were so widespread that in past centuries the English called their hunting “mastiffs” and their catchdogs “Alauntes”, just as there is even today a dog in Spain called “Alano”.
In addition to the information from the classic authors that we will ading in the comments, it is worth highlighting some more current books and websites consulted. We have: “Dogs of War: Canine Use in Warfare from Ancient Egypt to the 19th Century Seminole Wars” from writer and researcher David Karunanithy.
https://www.amazon.com/David-Karunanithy-ebook/dp/B07FKVX15J?ref_=ast_sto_dp
On the other hand we find an analysis made in the 18th century of Arrian’s book Cynegeticus by Dansey, William (1792-1856) in which the author makes many notes of his own experience and knowledge.
https://ia800704.us.archive.org/2/items/arrianoncoursing00arri/arrianoncoursing00arri.pdf
On the other hand, there is a website that investigates in depth the issue of origins, development and preservation of canine breeds of dogs by the British researcher named David Hancock.
https://www.davidhancockondogs-serials.com/
David Hancock article about molossus history:
https://www.davidhancockondogs-serials.com/chapter2-the-molossian-connection
Great Dane gnosis:
Another website oriented more than anything to research on the Great Dane but that traces ties with other breeds such as the Epirus Molossus
Great Dane gnosis article of the Epirus Dogs:
Romano Imperio: A site on all topics related to the Roman Empire.
Romano Imperio article about the canis pugnax history
https://www.romanoimpero.com/2019/01/cani-da-guerra-romani.html
WorldHistory.org: A site about history, which dedicates some articles to dogs in ancient times.
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/184/dogs-in-the-ancient-world/
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1603/dogs–their-collars-in-ancient-rome/
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1001/the-nimrud-dogs/
And pages to learn more about the Italian Mastiff or Cane Corso we highlight
Modern Molosser: Site dedicated to modern molosser breeds.
https://www.modernmolosser.com/cane-corso-neapolitan-mastiff-in-battle-over-ancient-images
Il Cane Corso Italiano: Page with all the necessary information about the Cane Corso from the character, morphology and history.
It is also worth mentioning very useful sites to consult information of classical sources:
Lacus Curtius article about dogs in ancient Grece and Rome:
https://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/miscellanea/canes/canes.html
Hellenica World article about dogs in ancient Grece:
https://www.hellenicaworld.com/Greece/Ancient/en/Dogs.html
Previous edition comments section: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tzchzMP8jpQKRy7LfDkoIY5vxH1c7hvZ/view?usp=sharing
#animalinstinct #workingdogs #molossus
5 Comments
Index:
00:00 :Intro
00:52 :Origins (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Anatolia, Macedonia)
08:05 :Breeds clasification in Roman times
08:46 :Canis Pastoralis (Livestock Guardian Dogs)
10:12 :Canis Villaticus (Guard Dogs)
11:50 :Canis Pugnax, intro (Combat, Hunting or War Dogs)
12:29 :Canis Pugnax (Hyrcanian Dog)
14:51 :Canis Pugnax (Molossus)
17:21 :Canis Pugnax (Briton)
19:04 :Canis Venaticus (Hunting Dogs)
20:38 :Canis Venaticus, Canes Sagaces, Scent Hounds (Laconian or Spartan Dogs)
22:39 :Canis Venaticus, Canes Celeres, Greyhounds predecessors (Vertragus)
25:03 :Canis Pugnax (Uses in the Roman Army)
27:40 :Celt and Germanic Dogs of War
28:53 :Roman Circus and Amphitheatre, Center of breeding and training of dog breeds in the Roman world (City of Capua, Ancient Campania, North of Naples)
31:05 :The Roman Circus or Amphitheatre (Spectacles in which animals were used, "The Venationes")
33:32 :Direct descendant, the "Cane Corso", (The evolution of the Canis Pugnax after Rome)
35:00 :Direct descendant, the "Cane Corso", (Modern Cane Corso characteristics)
Hello friends!, we are very happy to announce that the channel has surpassed 1000 followers. We are very grateful to the beautiful community that has been created, prompting us to put all our enthusiasm into generating more quality content about our passion for nature and the animal kingdom.
Unfortunately we had to re-upload this video due to a misunderstanding with the soundtrack royalties. Therefore, in other to preserve the interactions of the previous edition we decided to make a compendium with the comments that have nourished the channel so much since the beginnings. Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tzchzMP8jpQKRy7LfDkoIY5vxH1c7hvZ/view?usp=sharing. We know that it is not the same as to leave the comments as they were, but since we put a lot of effort and dedication into the research and creation of this video, we believe that it is the right thing for the video to be monetized.
We want to thank all the people who shared their experiences, gave us advice and supported the channel, helping to position it today as a reliable source of information with a prosperous future.
New video is in the works.
Thank you so much!
It is also important to note that fortunately many classical authors have referred to agricultural issues in some of their works, stopping at the subject of dogs, so we know their characteristics and their uses in those times.
To name some Latin and Greek authors who provide in great detail the characteristics and use of animals in ancient times we find the Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian Xenophon in his book Cynegetica translated as “On Hunting”, The Roman polymath and a prolific author Marcus Terentius Varro in his book "Rerum Rusticarum", a work on agricultural topics, the Roman poet Grattius in his poem "Cynegeticon" also on hunting. On the other hand, the Hispanic agronomic writer of ancient Rome Junius Moderatus Columella in his book "De re rustica" ("on rural affairs"). Pliiny the Elder in Natural History that covers many fields on nature, the Roman author and rhetoric professor Aelian in Natura Animalium, (on the nature of animals), the Greco-Syrian poet Oppian of Apamea in The Cynegetica a didactic epic poem on hunting, the Roman poet from Carthague Nemesianus in Cynegetica a poem on hunting, the Greek historian and military commander Arrian in "Cynegeticus", (hunting with dogs), centered on Celtic sport of coursing hare with sighthounds.
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También es importante señalar que afortunadamente muchos autores clásicos se han referido a temas agrícolas en algunas de sus obras, deteniéndose en el tema de los perros, por lo que conocemos sus características y sus usos en aquellos tiempos.
Para nombrar algunos autores latinos y griegos que brindan con gran detalle las características y el uso de los animales en la antigüedad, encontramos al líder militar, filósofo e historiador griego Jenofonte en su libro Cynegetica traducido como “Sobre la caza”, El erudito romano y un prolífico autor Marcus Terentius Varro en su libro "Rerum Rusticarum", una obra sobre temas agrícolas, el poeta romano Grattius en su poema "Cynegeticon" también sobre la caza. Por otro lado, el escritor agronómico hispano de la antigua Roma Junius Moderatus Columella en su libro "De re rustica" ("Sobre los asuntos rurales"). Pliiny el Viejo en Historia Natural que cubre muchos campos sobre la naturaleza, el autor romano y profesor de retórica Aelian en Natura Animalium, (sobre la naturaleza de los animales), el poeta greco-sirio Oppian de Apamea en The Cynegetica un poema épico didáctico sobre la caza, el poeta romano de Cartago Nemesianus en Cynegetica un poema sobre la caza, el historiador griego y comandante militar Arrian en "Cynegeticus", (caza con perros), centrado en el deporte celta de cazar liebres con lebreles.
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Very good work; greetings from Italy