Molossus (dog)

The Molossus (Greek: Μολοσσός, romanized: Molossós; also known as the Molossian hound, Epirus mastiff) was a breed of dog from Ancient Greece.

Not to be confused with Molossus of Epirus.
For other uses, see Molossus.
Molossus
The "Jennings Dog", a Roman copy of a lost Greek bronze statue, on display in the British Museum.
Other names
  • Μολοσσός
  • Molossian hound
OriginEpirus, ancient Greece
Breed statusExtinct
Dog (domestic dog)

History

The Molossus were dogs that were kept by the ancient Greek tribe and kingdom of the Molossians, who inhabited the region of Epirus.[1][2]

The Molossus were famous throughout the ancient world for their size and ferocity and were frequently mentioned in ancient literature, including the writings of Aristophanes,[3] Aristotle,[4] Grattius,[5] Horace,[6][7] Lucan,[8] Lucretius,[9] Martial,[10] Nemesianus,[11] Oppian of Apamea,[12] Plautus,[13] Seneca,[14] Statius,[15][16][17] Ovid,[18] and Virgil.[19] The Molossians issued silver coinage with an image of a Molossus as their emblem.[1]

It is sometimes stated in books and magazines, particularly in Continental Europe and North America, that all mastiff-type dogs are descended from the Molossus.[1][2] This theory states that the breed's progenitors arrived in Molossia from Asia and were eventually discovered by the Romans who employed large numbers as guards for the Roman Army; this theory speculates that the various mastiff breeds found throughout Europe descend from dogs left behind by the Romans.[2] This theory has been questioned by many experts who state it relies on guesswork and lacks historical evidence, and that mastiffs likely developed elsewhere.[1][2]

Another story is that in the course of his military conquests Alexander the Great discovered some giant dogs in Asia that impressed him so much that he sent some home; as the son of a Molossi princess these dogs became associated with his mother's people and that it was from these dogs that all mastiffs descend.[2]

It seems most likely that Molossi kept two distinct types of dogs, one a hunting dog with a broad muzzle which resembled something in between a Great Dane and a heavily built Saluki, the other a large livestock guardian dog.[1][2] Aristotle in his History of Animals wrote "In the Molossian race of dogs, those employed in hunting differ in no respect from other dogs; while those employed in following sheep are larger and more fierce in their attack on wild beasts."[1][4] He also added that dogs that are born of a mixed breed between the Molossian and the Laconian dogs are remarkable for courage and endurance of hard labour.[4]

Polycrates of Samos imported Molossian and Laconian dogs to the island.[20]

According to Greek mythology the goddess Artemis gave to Procris a dog, Laelaps, that never failed to catch its prey and from this dog derived the Molossian and Laconian hounds.[21]

Modern kennel club classification

A number of modern kennel clubs, including the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, group the distinct mastiffs with livestock guardian dogs as a single type they call "molossoid".[1][22][23] It has been theorised that this confusion is due to mistranslations of ancient texts and assumptions based solely on size.[1][22]

See also

References
  1. Hancock, David (2001). The mastiffs: the big game hunters, their history, development & future. Ducklington, Oxon: Charwynne Dog Features. ISBN 9780951780114.
  2. Morris, Desmond (2001). Dogs: the ultimate dictionary of over 1,000 dog breeds. North Pomfret, VT: Trafalgar Square Publishing. pp. 616–617 & 703. ISBN 1-57076-219-8.
  3. Aristophanes, Thesmophoriazusae, 416.
  4. Aristotle, History of Animals, IX. I. 2. Translated by Richard Cresswell, London: George Bell & Sons, 1887.
  5. Grattius, Cynegeticon, 169.
  6. Horace, Epodes,VI.
  7. Horace, Satires 2, VI. 114.
  8. Lucan, Pharsalia, IV. 440.
  9. Lucretius, De rerum natura, V. 1063.
  10. Martial, Epigram, XII. I. 1.
  11. Nemesianus, Cynegetica, 107.
  12. Oppian, Cynegetica, I. 375.
  13. Plautus, Captivi, 86.
  14. Seneca, Phaedra, 33.
  15. Statius, Achilleid, I. 747.
  16. Statius, Silvae, II. VI. 19.
  17. Statius, Thebaid, III. 203.
  18. Ovid, Metamorphoses, I. 226.
  19. Virgil, Georgics, III. 405.
  20. Athenaeus, Deipnosophists, 12.57
  21. Peck, Harry Thurston (1898). Harpers dictionary of classical antiquities. New York: Harper and Brothers. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  22. Ash, Edward Cecil (1927). Dogs: their history and development. London: Ernest Benn. p. 499.
  23. "Group 2: Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs". Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
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