Dogs in ancient Greece and Rome

Explore the place of dogs in ancient Greek and Roman life, from the entrance of a Pompeian house to the excavations of Vindolanda. Read objects, texts and traces of everyday encounters. Discover working roles and companionship while learning what ancient evidence can reveal, and what it leaves uncertain.

Training mode

Dogs in ancient Greece and Rome

0 / 20 answered

1. The Getty's Roman grave stele of Helena shows a dog. What remains debated?

The Getty's Roman grave stele of Helena shows a dog. What remains debated? Whether Rome had domesticated dogs Whether Helena was the dog or a girl Whether the object contains any carving
2. Where is the CAVE CANEM mosaic in Pompeii's House of the Tragic Poet?

Where is the CAVE CANEM mosaic in Pompeii's House of the Tragic Poet? Inside a theatre's orchestra At the bottom of a public swimming pool At the entrance
3. How does the British Museum classify the Jennings Dog statue?

How does the British Museum classify the Jennings Dog statue? A modern plastic reconstruction An original photograph of a Greek dog A Roman marble copy of a Hellenistic bronze original
4. In ancient hunting descriptions, what distinguishes following scent from following sight?

In ancient hunting descriptions, what distinguishes following scent from following sight? Whether the owner lives in a city The main sensory information used to pursue the animal Whether the dog has a name
5. What does the Latin warning CAVE CANEM mean?

What does the Latin warning CAVE CANEM mean? The dog is asleep Beware of the dog Welcome home
6. What does a range of different-sized adult dog bones at Vindolanda suggest?

What does a range of different-sized adult dog bones at Vindolanda suggest? Dogs of different sizes lived there Only one uniform dog type was present All the bones belonged to one growing puppy
7. Which description best fits dogs in Greek and Roman societies?

Which description best fits dogs in Greek and Roman societies? Workers and companions, with varied roles Animals absent from domestic life Animals used only in warfare
8. What kind of object is Helena's stele?

What kind of object is Helena's stele? A funerary monument A food bowl A hunting whistle
9. Does finding 171 dog bones necessarily mean finding 171 dogs?

Does finding 171 dog bones necessarily mean finding 171 dogs? Yes, every bone is a complete skeleton No, one animal has many bones Yes, archaeologists count one bone per dog
10. For Columella, why was a farm dog's strong bark useful?

For Columella, why was a farm dog's strong bark useful? It could warn and deter intruders It replaced every other farm worker It improved crop growth
11. How should a modern reader use an ancient dog-management manual?

How should a modern reader use an ancient dog-management manual? As historical evidence to place in context As automatically valid current welfare advice As proof that every Roman followed its instructions
12. Ancient authors describe Laconian and Molossian dogs. What should we avoid assuming?

Ancient authors describe Laconian and Molossian dogs. What should we avoid assuming? That these labels exactly match modern registered breeds That ancient people noticed different dog types That dogs could have different working roles
13. What does Varro's discussion of flock guardians show about choosing a working dog?

What does Varro's discussion of flock guardians show about choosing a working dog? Any hunting dog automatically guarded sheep Experience with the intended task mattered Appearance was the only consideration
14. How could a dog's paw print become preserved in a Vindolanda tile?

How could a dog's paw print become preserved in a Vindolanda tile? Every tile was carved with a dog portrait The dog stepped on clay before it hardened The print grew inside fired clay centuries later
15. Why did Columella favour a white flock guardian in his agricultural writing?

Why did Columella favour a white flock guardian in his agricultural writing? To distinguish it more easily from a wolf in dim light Because white fur proved greater intelligence Because white dogs needed no food
16. Why consult the restoration notes for the Jennings Dog?

Why consult the restoration notes for the Jennings Dog? Restoration guarantees the dog's exact breed Repaired parts prove the statue is modern Some visible parts have been repaired
17. What evidence of dogs has been found at the Roman site of Vindolanda?

What evidence of dogs has been found at the Roman site of Vindolanda? Only modern photographs Only stories written in the twentieth century Bones, objects and written references
18. In his hunting treatise, what kind of dog names does Xenophon recommend?

In his hunting treatise, what kind of dog names does Xenophon recommend? Long family genealogies Names changed every day Short names that are easy to call
19. What can a healed fracture in an excavated dog bone establish directly?

What can a healed fracture in an excavated dog bone establish directly? The dog survived the injury long enough for healing The exact medicine it received The name of its owner
20. What is found beside a dog paw print on one Vindolanda tile?

What is found beside a dog paw print on one Vindolanda tile? A modern kennel-club number The name of a medieval king The word FIDELIS

Questions covered in this exam

Which description best fits dogs in Greek and Roman societies?
What does the Latin warning CAVE CANEM mean?
Where is the CAVE CANEM mosaic in Pompeii's House of the Tragic Poet?
In his hunting treatise, what kind of dog names does Xenophon recommend?
What does Varro's discussion of flock guardians show about choosing a working dog?
Why did Columella favour a white flock guardian in his agricultural writing?
For Columella, why was a farm dog's strong bark useful?
Ancient authors describe Laconian and Molossian dogs. What should we avoid assuming?
How does the British Museum classify the Jennings Dog statue?
Why consult the restoration notes for the Jennings Dog?
The Getty's Roman grave stele of Helena shows a dog. What remains debated?
What kind of object is Helena's stele?
What evidence of dogs has been found at the Roman site of Vindolanda?
How could a dog's paw print become preserved in a Vindolanda tile?
What does a range of different-sized adult dog bones at Vindolanda suggest?
Does finding 171 dog bones necessarily mean finding 171 dogs?
What is found beside a dog paw print on one Vindolanda tile?
What can a healed fracture in an excavated dog bone establish directly?
In ancient hunting descriptions, what distinguishes following scent from following sight?
How should a modern reader use an ancient dog-management manual?

Dogs in ancient Greece and Rome

Dogs in ancient Greece and Rome

1. The Getty's Roman grave stele of Helena shows a dog. What remains debated?

2. Where is the CAVE CANEM mosaic in Pompeii's House of the Tragic Poet?

3. How does the British Museum classify the Jennings Dog statue?

4. In ancient hunting descriptions, what distinguishes following scent from following sight?

5. What does the Latin warning CAVE CANEM mean?

6. What does a range of different-sized adult dog bones at Vindolanda suggest?

7. Which description best fits dogs in Greek and Roman societies?

8. What kind of object is Helena's stele?

9. Does finding 171 dog bones necessarily mean finding 171 dogs?

10. For Columella, why was a farm dog's strong bark useful?

11. How should a modern reader use an ancient dog-management manual?

12. Ancient authors describe Laconian and Molossian dogs. What should we avoid assuming?

13. What does Varro's discussion of flock guardians show about choosing a working dog?

14. How could a dog's paw print become preserved in a Vindolanda tile?

15. Why did Columella favour a white flock guardian in his agricultural writing?

16. Why consult the restoration notes for the Jennings Dog?

17. What evidence of dogs has been found at the Roman site of Vindolanda?

18. In his hunting treatise, what kind of dog names does Xenophon recommend?

19. What can a healed fracture in an excavated dog bone establish directly?

20. What is found beside a dog paw print on one Vindolanda tile?

Further reading

Snoutscoop

Dogs in ancient Greece and Rome

1. The Getty's Roman grave stele of Helena shows a dog. What remains debated?

2. Where is the CAVE CANEM mosaic in Pompeii's House of the Tragic Poet?

3. How does the British Museum classify the Jennings Dog statue?

4. In ancient hunting descriptions, what distinguishes following scent from following sight?

5. What does the Latin warning CAVE CANEM mean?

6. What does a range of different-sized adult dog bones at Vindolanda suggest?

7. Which description best fits dogs in Greek and Roman societies?

8. What kind of object is Helena's stele?

9. Does finding 171 dog bones necessarily mean finding 171 dogs?

10. For Columella, why was a farm dog's strong bark useful?

11. How should a modern reader use an ancient dog-management manual?

12. Ancient authors describe Laconian and Molossian dogs. What should we avoid assuming?

13. What does Varro's discussion of flock guardians show about choosing a working dog?

14. How could a dog's paw print become preserved in a Vindolanda tile?

15. Why did Columella favour a white flock guardian in his agricultural writing?

16. Why consult the restoration notes for the Jennings Dog?

17. What evidence of dogs has been found at the Roman site of Vindolanda?

18. In his hunting treatise, what kind of dog names does Xenophon recommend?

19. What can a healed fracture in an excavated dog bone establish directly?

20. What is found beside a dog paw print on one Vindolanda tile?

Further reading

A little more dog in your inbox