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

Posted on 06/28/2022 7:52:25 PM PDT by 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
The Extinct Dog Breeds of Ancient Rome | June 24, 2022 | toldinstone

(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: animalhusbandry; cavecanem; dog; dogs; godsgravesglyphs; romanempire; toldinstone
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0:00 Introduction
1:29 Fabulous
2:42 Molossian Hound
3:26 Laconian Hound & Vertragus
3:55 Maltese Dog
5:09 Varieties, not breeds

1 posted on 06/28/2022 7:52:25 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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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.

2 posted on 06/28/2022 7:53:55 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...

3 posted on 06/28/2022 7:54:18 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: SunkenCiv

For later.

L


4 posted on 06/28/2022 7:55:01 PM PDT by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: SunkenCiv

“Careful study of the canine...”


That’s “dogs” to the lay person.


5 posted on 06/28/2022 8:05:02 PM PDT by Ken H (Trump /DeSantis)
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To: SunkenCiv

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

CC


6 posted on 06/28/2022 8:06:29 PM PDT by Celtic Conservative (My cats are more amusing than 200 channels worth of TV.)
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To: SunkenCiv

They aren’t extinct.

They evolved. into chickens and other birds

No wait. Into dinosaurs!

No wait…


7 posted on 06/28/2022 8:37:35 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (Fraud vitiates everything. )
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To: SunkenCiv

Let’s see:

Canis major

Canis minor

Canis major minor

Canis lieutenant general

Canis maximus

Canis lupus

Canis film festivus

Did I miss any?


8 posted on 06/28/2022 9:49:24 PM PDT by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
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To: Larry Lucido

Canis Biggus Dickus?


9 posted on 06/29/2022 12:11:56 AM PDT by null and void (If I had a buck for every girl that found me unattractive, they would eventually find me attractive!)
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To: SunkenCiv
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.
10 posted on 06/29/2022 1:27:50 AM PDT by Mr Radical (In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.)
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To: Celtic Conservative
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.
11 posted on 06/29/2022 1:59:23 AM PDT by Rdct29 (Democrats are the new Nazi's. They think they deserve total control over the people)
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To: null and void

Canis Bitus Assus...

Saw the remains in Pompeii..

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


12 posted on 06/29/2022 3:05:08 AM PDT by Adder (Dumblecrats: Spending $$ we don't have on crap we don't need for people who pay no taxes.)
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To: Larry Lucido

Cave Canem.

Woof!


13 posted on 06/29/2022 3:10:02 AM PDT by mewzilla (We need to repeal RCV wherever it's in use and go back to dumb voting machines.)
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To: SunkenCiv
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.

14 posted on 06/29/2022 4:17:41 AM PDT by Varda
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To: null and void

15 posted on 06/29/2022 4:37:20 AM PDT by DCBryan1 (Delete FB, TWTR, GOOGL, AMZN, YHOO, Gmail/chrome. Use Gab, Brave + DDG, VPN, Freerepublic )
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To: null and void

LOL. I need to watch that movie again.


16 posted on 06/29/2022 4:57:47 AM PDT by BozoTexino (RIP GOP)
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To: SunkenCiv

I had a Roman dog once.

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

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


17 posted on 06/29/2022 5:24:23 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: DCBryan1

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


18 posted on 06/29/2022 5:25:22 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: SunkenCiv
You might also enjoy my book, Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants.

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

19 posted on 06/29/2022 5:30:24 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: BozoTexino

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


20 posted on 06/29/2022 5:52:39 AM PDT by null and void (If I had a buck for every girl that found me unattractive, they would eventually find me attractive!)
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