Pets of Antiquity

• Dogs are seen being fed at their master's table in Homer and, of course, in The Odyssey the most famous Greek dog, Argos, makes an appearance.

• Also, Penelope is seen enjoying her flock of geese--however, this is also connected with the dream and interpretation by Odysseus

• The most common pet was the white long-haired Maltese--It is represented on many 5th century BCE Attic vases and gravestones

• Epitaphs display the affection felt for dogs by their owners

• There were many tamed birds--starlings, magpies, ravens and crows, who were taught to talk

• Another example of a bird as a pet is the infamous sparrow of Lesbia:
  O sparrow that are my sweetheart's pet,
  with whom she likes to play, whom to hold in her lap,
  to whose pecking to offer her finger-tips
  and provoke you to bite sharply whenever it pleases her,
  bright-eyed with longing for me,
  to engage in some endearing frolic so that,
  I fancy, when her fierce passion subsides,
  it may prove a diversion for her pain:
  to be able to play with you, as does your mistress,
  and allay the sad cares of my heart
  would be as welcome to me as they say
  was to the swift-footed girl that golden apple
  which loosed her long-tied girdle.

• Parrots were imported from India

• Nightingales and blackbirds were kept for their songs.

• Monkeys were kept to amuse the house with their antics and tricks.

• Other strange pets--snakes, lagalopex (long-eared fox) and the ichneumon

• The cat made a late appearance in Rome due to their status in Egypt which prevented their export

• Ferrets were used for pest control

• Fishponds appeared in the villas of the wealthy

• Even more pets: doves, pigeons, peacocks, flamingos, boars, hares, deer and antelopes

• Anatolian Shepherd--combat dog used in Turkey. Heavy and quick.

• Bernese Mountain Dog and Entlebucher--Both came to Switzerland with the Roman legions. The Romans armed the Bernese with heavy iron-studded collars and sent them into battle. The Swiss later bred them to be smaller and less fierce. The Entlebucher was the dog who carried milk and cheese from farms to shops.

• Neapolitan Mastiff--A massive dog who was first brought to Greece from India by Alexander the Great c.300BCE. This breed then traveled to Rome where it became a circus performer, military combatant and a guard dog. The Romans bred it to be dark so that it would blend in with shadows at night.

• Sloughi and Saluki--These are probably the world's oldest breeds. The Sloughi were bred from Egyptian royal dogs. The Saluki appeared in Mesopotamia as early as 3000BCE. They were exchanged as gifts among the nobility. When the dog was introduced into Europe, it became a symbol of royalty.

• Xoloitzcuintle--This Mexican hairless dog made its first appearance in 1500BCE. It came to Central America by way of Asia and was named after the god, Xoloti. It was valued for its healing properties. They were used a live heating pads to treat arthritis and other aches. However, people also enjoyed this dog in another facet: they were delicacies.