Image Gallery
Roman Statue of Dogs Playing
Romans enthusiastically kept dogs as pets. Most were used for hunting or guarding livestock, but some smaller breeds were kept as lapdogs.
Pictured: Roman statue group of two sighthounds playing, once nicknamed "The Townley Greyhounds", after their owner Charles Townley. However, the dogs depicted are not proper greyhounds. Made in the 2nd century CE, discovered in 1774 CE in Monte Cagniolo, Italy.
The British Museum, London.