dogs of roman britain

 

  • The references by Roman writers to these dogs suggest that British dogs were both fast and strong, useful in hunting and even in war.

  • [21] Depictions in art The relationship between Britain and the production of hunting breeds was significant enough to render the image of hunting with domestic dogs often
    synonymous with the territory itself in Roman art.

  • With this knowledge alongside the apparent abundance of the animals in Roman British life, it is likely that such dogs were treated equally in this regard.

  • [20] Aside from dogs as companions and for hunting purposes, dog hides were also known attributes of the Roman Britain economy.

  • [7] However, another important factor to note is that the dog figurines found in this hoard always depict the dog larger than the human.

  • [15] Pets Through zooarchaeological research, evidence has been found that supports the idea that domestic dog ownership was prevalent in Roman Britain.

  • Therefore, it is MacKinnon’s suggestion that “personal animal” is a more reflective term for the role of dogs in Roman Britain.

  • [9] The ancient Greek historian Strabo reported that dogs were exported from Britain for the purpose of game hunting, and that these dogs were also used by the Celts as war
    dogs.

  • [18] However, terminology such as the word “pet” is problematic in the context of Rome as work animals and pets were often the same thing in antiquity.

  • [11] The even later Roman poet Claudian describes British dogs “that can break the neck of mighty bulls”, in a literal flight of poetic licence – all the dog-types that are
    named, follow Diana’s companions in heavenly chariots through the clouds.

  • Along with this are written references to the use of dogs as well.

  • There has been presences of dog remains, figurines of dogs, and use of dogs in religion found among the remains of excavated sites.

  • Using the word pet also subconsciously projects modern interpretations of what a pet is onto the ancient world.

  • This idea can be seen as a visual display of dogs being associated with the underworld.

  • As dogs were seen to have a connection to the underworld, placing figurines of dogs with the dead was thought to help souls with passage.

  • [14] In other writing, he references hunting dogs being a primary export of British trade as a result of this high quality.

 

Works Cited

[‘1. Fleig, D. (1996). Fighting Dog Breeds. (Pg. 26 – 27). Neptune, NJ: TFH Publications. ISBN 0-7938-0499-X
2. ^ Wynn, M.B. (1886). History of the Mastiff. William Loxley. pp. 64–67.
3. ^ Jump up to:a b Piercy Fox, Nancy (1967). “The Ritual Shaft
at Warbank, Keston | Kent Archaeological Society”. kentarchaeology.org.uk. p. 188. Archived from the original on 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
4. ^ Davidson, Hilda Ellis (1998). Roles of the northern goddess. Routledge. p. 112. ISBN 0-415-13610-5.
OCLC 481184189.
5. ^ Ireland, Stanley (2008). Roman Britain: A Sourcebook (3rd ed.). Routledge. p. 216. ISBN 978-0-415-47178-7. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
6. ^ DURHAM, EMMA (2014). “Style and Substance: Some Metal Figurines from South-West Britain”.
Britannia. 45: 212. doi:10.1017/S0068113X14000270. ISSN 0068-113X. JSTOR 24737450.
7. ^ Jump up to:a b DURHAM, EMMA (2014). “Style and Substance: Some Metal Figurines from South-West Britain”. Britannia. 45: 210. doi:10.1017/S0068113X14000270. ISSN
0068-113X. JSTOR 24737450.
8. ^ Snyder, L. (2016). Dogs and people in social, working, economic or symbolic interaction. Oxbow Books. pp. 62–64. ISBN 978-1-78570-426-0. OCLC 999474337.
9. ^ “Grattius – Cynegeticon”. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
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“Strabo’s Geography”. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
11. ^ “Nemesianus – Cynegetica”. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
12. ^ “Claudian – On the Consulship of Stilicho”. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
13. ^ Wynn, M. B. (1886). The history of the mastiff, gathered from sculpture,
pottery, carving, paintings, and engravings; also from various authors, with remarks on the same. Melton Mowbray [ Eng.?]: William Loxley. p. 38.
14. ^ Jump up to:a b Wynn, M. B. (1886). The history of the mastiff, gathered from sculpture, pottery,
carving, paintings, and engravings; also from various authors, with remarks on the same. Melton Mowbray [ Eng.?]: William Loxley. p. 40. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.26386.
15. ^ Jump up to:a b c “epitaph plaque | British Museum”. The British Museum. Retrieved
2021-05-27.
16. ^ MacKinnon, Michael (2010-06-01). “‘Sick as a dog’: zooarchaeological evidence for pet dog health and welfare in the Roman world”. World Archaeology. 42 (2): 291. doi:10.1080/00438241003673011. ISSN 0043-8243. S2CID 162293560.
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MacKinnon, Michael (2010-06-01). “‘Sick as a dog’: zooarchaeological evidence for pet dog health and welfare in the Roman world”. World Archaeology. 42 (2): 299. doi:10.1080/00438241003673011. ISSN 0043-8243. S2CID 162293560.
18. ^ MacKinnon,
Michael (2010). “‘Sick as a dog’: zooarchaeological evidence for pet dog health and welfare in the Roman world”. World Archaeology. 42 (2): 302–303. doi:10.1080/00438241003673011. ISSN 0043-8243. S2CID 162293560.
19. ^ MacKinnon, Michael (2010).
“‘Sick as a dog’: zooarchaeological evidence for pet dog health and welfare in the Roman world”. World Archaeology. 42 (2): 293. doi:10.1080/00438241003673011. ISSN 0043-8243. S2CID 162293560.
20. ^ Going, Chris; Boast, Robin (1994). “Britain
and Rome: A Lasting Affair?”. Cambridge Anthropology. 17 (2): 105. ISSN 0305-7674. JSTOR 23820417.
21. ^ Maltby, Mark (2014-08-04). Millett, Martin; Revell, Louise; Moore, Alison (eds.). The Exploitation of Animals in Roman Britain. Vol. 1. Oxford
University Press. p. 11. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199697731.013.045. ISBN 978-0-19-969773-1.
22. ^ DURHAM, EMMA (2014). “Style and Substance: Some Metal Figurines from South-West Britain”. Britannia. 45: 207–208. doi:10.1017/S0068113X14000270. ISSN
0068-113X. JSTOR 24737450.
23. ^ DURHAM, EMMA (2014). “Style and Substance: Some Metal Figurines from South-West Britain”. Britannia. 45: 210–211. doi:10.1017/S0068113X14000270. ISSN 0068-113X. JSTOR 24737450.
2. Fleig, D. (1996). Fighting Dog
Breeds. (Pg. 26 – 27). Neptune, NJ: TFH Publications. ISBN 0-7938-0499-X
3. Homan, M. (1999). A Complete History of Fighting Dogs. (Pg. 9). Howell Book House. ISBN 1-58245-128-1
Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rkramer62/4553203984/’]