How They Did It - Pet Dogs in Ancient Rome

Our history with man's best friend stretches far into the past. Today we take a look at the lives of dogs in ancient Rome; how they named, trained, and raised them.

Bibliography:
Xenophon and Arrian: On Hunting (1999) translated by A. A. Phillips and M. M. Willcock Metamorphoses Book III by Ovid
Names of Dogs in Ancient Greece by Adrienne Mayor
Greek and Roman Household Pets by Francis D. Lazenby

Artwork:

Music:
"Strings and Drums Comedy" by 8th Mode Music
"Emotional" by 8th Mode Music

#RomanHistory
#HowTheyDidIt

[artbysarf]

My favorite ancient Roman dog was one named Delta. She was found when archaeologists were making plaster casts of bodies in the remains of Pompeii. Found with her was her silver engraved collar that named her Delta, as well as named her owner Severinus and mentioned that she had saved his life on 3 occasions. First, Delta pulled him out of the sea and saved him from drowning. Second, she fought off 4 attackers who had tried to rob him. Finally, she defended him from a wolf that tried to attack him near the city of Herculaneum. Here’s the kicker. Delta was discovered in Pompeii positioned lying over the body of a young child, probably a relative of her master, attempting to shield it from the volcano. Even with her dying breath, Delta was a loyal and protective dog.

[SouthernGothicYT]

"Never again shall you give me a thousand kisses" *sobbing*

[ryanapps]

I wonder if the authors of those epitaphs ever thought, "I'm for sure gonna make someone cry in their room like 2100 years from now."

[boxerbomber]

"I am in tears while carrying you to your last resting place, as much as I rejoiced when bringing you home in my own hands 15 years ago."
Oh god my heart hurts.

[AUniqueHandleName]

"Myia, who never barked without reason, but now he is silent."
Damn, that's a very touching epitath for a dog.

[victreebeloverlord]

"I shed tears as I carry you to your final resting place, The same way I rejoiced carry you home in the same hands I did fifteen years ago." Hit me right in the feels.

[vaylonkenadell]

"But now his voice is imprisoned in the silent pathways of the night."

Damn.

[rb]

I wonder what those Romans would think if they knew thousands are reading the epitaphs of their dogs in the far distant future, and sharing in their sorrow.

[vilwarin]

Do not cry, because it is known that Pluto, god of death, loves dogs, and surely he is taking good care of those dogos down there

[TouThoj]

Damn these epitaphs hit hard, reminds me of the epitaph for a cat i saw on Imgur

Dewey 1898-1910
"He was only a cat but he was human enough to be a great comfort in hours of loneliness and pain"

[SuperManning]

This makes the Romans who wrote those epitaphs so real to me, not just an abstraction of history.

[alinaagurida]

YOU MADE ME CRY FOR A DOG THAT DIED THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO

[mountainmoth]

"What did you name your dog?"
"Bear!"
"Deerslayer!"
"Whirlwind!"
"... Spot."

[mikelms]

Humans: Have evolved as a society through the century
Dogs: Were perfect good boys from the beginning and forevermore

[LegendofLaw]

I got tired of listening to people telling me "it was a dog"
This one video has helped me realize people have been hurting for thousands of years when their beautiful companions pass away.

[FirefoxisredExplorerisblueGoog]

I never thought I'd get teary eyed over a 2000 year long dead pupper :(.

[grimble]

I love the one that said don't laugh even though this is a dog's grave. It just really brought home how the death of any being close to us is something difficult and worth remembering, regardless of differences in species.

[weebgravy]

When you suddenly relate to someone who has been dead for thousands of years is a sobering moment that reminds you of every human's shared humanity.

[baberuth]

Came expecting cute dog stories, left crying from cute dog stories

[peachyb.]

my 15 year old pup, half blind and near deaf, sensed my emotion watching this video.
She waddled in the room,
sneezed,
pooped on the floor, and went back to bed. i love her so