The Extinct Dog Breeds of Ancient Rome

YouTube ^ | June 24, 2022 | toldinstone

[SunkenCiv]

This video explores the dog varieties of ancient Rome - which, as far as we can tell, had little to do with any modern breed.

The Extinct Dog Breeds of Ancient Rome | June 24, 2022 | toldinstone

[SunkenCiv]

0:00 Introduction
1:29 Fabulous
2:42 Molossian Hound
3:26 Laconian Hound & Vertragus
3:55 Maltese Dog
5:09 Varieties, not breeds

[SunkenCiv]

Transcript
0:00
Dogs were the first animal to be domesticated.
0:04
Over their millennia of coexistence with humans, selective breeding for various physical and
0:09
behavioral traits has created a dazzling range of canine types, which have been formalized
0:15
over the past century and a half into hundreds of breeds.
0:20
Roman dogs also came in many varieties.
0:24
This is visible even in the paw prints that they made on drying roof tiles, which range
0:29
from the delicate tracks of lapdogs to craters punched by loping mastiffs.
0:35
Careful study of the canine bones found at Vindolanda in northern England has revealed
0:40
dogs from the size of Miniature Poodles to the size of Great Pyrenees.
0:46
Although dogs have been selectively bred for thousands of years, it was only in the last
0:51
century and a half, with the appearance of kennel clubs and pedigree registries, that
0:56
clear breed standards were established.
0:58
In the classical world, there were no such standards.
1:02
A dog was what it did: it was a sheep dog or a guard dog or whatever else, and its appearance
1:10
was more or less irrelevant.
1:13
But since wealthy Greeks and Romans could be very particular about the dogs they used
1:18
for hunting and kept as pets, a few varieties that we might call proto-breeds emerged.
1:24
We’ll investigate these after a few words about our sponsor.

[sponsor transcript redacted]

2:42
Back to the proto-dog breeds of the Roman Empire.
2:46
The largest classical variety was the Molossian hound, a deep-chested mastiff with a broad
2:51
muzzle, pointed ears, and a ruff of fur around the neck.
2:57
Molossians were originally bred to hunt boars, and continued to be the default big-game dog
3:02
throughout antiquity.
3:04
Molossians even appeared in the Colosseum, where they chased exotic animals and unfortunate
3:09
criminals.
3:11
More prosaically, they were used to guard homes, and even to pull small carts.
3:17
One of the more eccentric emperors is said to have harnessed four huge Molossians to
3:22
a chariot when he wanted to drive around the grounds of his estates.
3:26
The Classical world’s most famous mid-size variety was the slim and swift Laconian hound,
3:32
which ran down deer and hares.
3:35
Over the course of the Roman era, however, it was replaced by the equally slim and ever
3:41
swifter vertragus, which resembled the modern greyhound.
3:44
The vertragus also a favorite pet: the historian Arrian had one that lay beside him as he wrote
3:51
and walked with him to the gymnasium every day.
3:54
The best-known small variety was the Maltese dog, a stub-legged and fluffy-coated creature
4:01
whose most useful quality was being able to fit in a handbag.
4:06
To judge from ancient representations, it was about the size, shape, and volume of a
4:13
Pomeranian.
4:15
Many wealthy Roman families kept a Maltese dog or three.
4:19
They became the Roman equivalent of purse dogs.
4:24
Elite ladies carried them about in the folds of their cloaks and named them things like
4:30
Smidgen and Pearl.
4:32
Often, they were outrageously spoiled: a Roman poet describes how one doting owner commissioned
4:40
a portrait of a lapdog named Missy.
4:43
Especially favored lap dogs might be buried beside their owners.
4:47
In the Antalya Museum, for example, is a miniature sarcophagus inscribed with three Greek epigrams,
4:55
one of which reads: Rhodope shed tears when I perished, and buried me like a human.
5:00
I am the dog Stephanos; Rhodope set up a tomb for me.
5:05
Rhodope, of course, was the name of the dog’s owner.
5:10
Molossians, Laconians, and Maltese were only the most famous and widespread of the classical
5:16
varieties.
5:18
Ancient sources mention dozens more, most apparently confined to a single region.
5:24
None of these varieties, as far as we can tell, has a close relationship with any modern
5:30
breed.
5:31
But their existence reflects the fact that, even two thousand years ago, man’s best
5:35
friend came in many shapes and sizes.
5:39
If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting toldinstone on Patreon.
5:44
You might also enjoy my book, Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants.
5:50
Thanks for watching.

[SunkenCiv]

[Lurker]

For later.

L

[Ken H]

“Careful study of the canine...”

---

That’s “dogs” to the lay person.

[Celtic Conservative]

The Cane Corso is a modern descendant of the Mollossian hound.

CC

[aMorePerfectUnion]

They aren’t extinct.

They evolved. into chickens and other birds

No wait. Into dinosaurs!

No wait…

[Larry Lucido]

Let’s see:

Canis major

Canis minor

Canis major minor

Canis lieutenant general

Canis maximus

Canis lupus

Canis film festivus

Did I miss any?

[null and void]

Canis Biggus Dickus?

[Mr Radical]

Elite ladies carried them about in the folds of their cloaks and named them things like Smidgen and Pearl. Often, they were outrageously spoiled...
I guess it's reassuring to learn that some aspects of human nature haven't changed in 2000 years. At least they didn't tell us that the Roman Legionairies dressed up as dogs for the purpose of role-play.

[Rdct29]

The Cane Corso was the best dog I ever owned. I got him in 1995 before their popularity exploded. I had a 6 year old and a newborn baby when I brought the puppy home. My wife wasn't happy but she couldn't resist the cute puppy. He was great with the family and he even was friendly with our cat. He was protective of the family but not mean. If I let you in the house he would treat you as a friend. People who came knocking on my door would turn around and leave when they heard him bark and saw his big head in the window. He was everything you want in a dog.

[Adder]

Canis Bitus Assus...

Saw the remains in Pompeii..

Told in Stone is a great channel...his book is great also...

[mewzilla]

Cave Canem.

Woof!

[Varda]

Thanks for posting, I've read the first few sentences of the transcript and there are already numerous serious errors.

1. Almost no dog breeds emerged with the registers. Stud books precede the registers and breeds precede the stud books. Writing standards and keeping records has nothing to do with whether something is a breed.

2. People didn't care about looks in working dogs- false. Form follows function is a truism that accepted everywhere because it's true.

I'll keep reading but the start is not promising for a good grade on this one.

[DCBryan1]

[BozoTexino]

LOL. I need to watch that movie again.

[Red Badger]

I had a Roman dog once.

Whenever he got out of the fenced-in yard he was roamin’ all over the neighborhood....................

>RIMSHOT<..................

[Red Badger]

That scene was totally ad-libbed...............

[Red Badger]

You might also enjoy my book, Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants.

I bet he likes gladiator movies.................

[null and void]

I, of course, merely meant the Roman word for the giant dachshund...