Image Gallery
Model Clay Dogs from Nineveh
These counterparts of real mastiffs were buried to guard a property from devils and demons. Ritual instructions for making and inscribing them survive on clay tablets. This pack was found beneath a palace doorway at Nineveh. Each is named after a quality required in guard dogs:
- "Loud is his bark!" (black dog)
- "Bitter of his foe!" (blue dog)
- "Don't think, bite!" (white dog)
- "Catcher of the enemy!" (red dog)
- "Expeller of evil!" (white dog with red spots)
From the North Palace (Room S, door D) at Nineveh, Northern Mesopotamia, Iraq. Neo-Assyrian perid, c. 645 BCE.
The British Museum, London.
Questions & Answers
What is the oldest dog breed in the world?
- The Saluki is considered the oldest dog breed in the world. Evidence suggests it originated in 7000 BCE.
What is the most popular dog breed in the world?
- According to the American Kennel Club, the French bulldog is the most popular breed in the world followed closely by the labrador retriever.
What is the Colima Dog?
- Colima dogs are figurines found in Mesoamerican tombs thought to serve as guides and protectors for the soul in the journey to the afterlife.
When were dogs first domesticated?
- Dogs were first domesticated at least 29,000 years ago although evidence suggests it was much earlier.
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