Dogs in Athenian Sculpture and Vase Painting of the Archaic and Classical Periods
By (author) Katia Margariti
Paperback (Published)
(May 2025)
ISBN: 9781803279978
8.07 x 11.42 inches
Price: $90.00
On back order
This book analyses the iconography of dogs in Athenian art, highlighting their roles as companions, hunters, pets, and status symbols. It explores their presence in various aspects of ancient Greek life, their association with gods and heroes, and their depiction in funerary reliefs, reflecting the deep human-canine bond.
Having earned the title of ‘man’s best friend’ through their millennia-long relationship with humans, dogs have been constantly present in human life. The great number of textual and artistic representations of canines attests to the popularity of these animals in ancient Greece, where the existence of domesticated dogs has been traced back to the early Neolithic period. Dogs appear in more than 2,000 painted and sculpted scenes of Athenian art, serving a variety of roles: they are the faithful companions of warriors and riders, valuable collaborators in the hunt, cherished pets, and status symbols. They are present in the gymnasium, the symposium, and in domestic scenes. They are shown happily playing with children, providing protection and companionship for women, and accompanying males in various aspects of their everyday lives. They are associated with gods and mythical heroes and are even depicted on funerary reliefs, accompanying their humans in death. This book offers a thorough study and analysis of the iconography of dog depictions in Athenian sculpture and vase painting, employing an interdisciplinary approach to explore their multifarious function and the extent to which they were influenced by the human-canine bond.
Introduction
Chapter 1: The dog in Ancient Greece
Chapter 2: Depicting the dog in Athenian sculpture and vase painting
Chapter 3: Dogs in war
Chapter 4: Dogs in the hunt
Chapter 5: Dogs and horses, riders and chariots
Chapter 6: Dogs, athletics, music and education
Chapter 7: Dogs in the symposium and komos
Chapter 8: Dogs and eros
Chapter 9: Dogs and death
Chapter 10: Dogs and humans
Chapter 11: Dogs, deities and rituals
Chapter 12: Dogs of myth
Conclusions
Catalogue
References / Bibliography
Bibliographical Notes
Tables (I: breeds, II: Athenian dog names)
Graphs (1: Vase shapes, 2: Themes, 3: Vase painters)
Images
Index
- By (author) Katia Margariti
‘In sum, Katia Margariti’s work is an essential study for anyone interested not only in dogs, but also in animals in the ancient world. It not only substantially enriches our understanding of the Athenian case but, thanks to its methodological approach, also stands as a model for future research in other geographical and cultural contexts. Far from being merely a catalogue of iconographic types and themes, the book approaches dogs as animals in their own right and even offers glimpses into the emotional bonds that may have developed between dogs and humans. For all these reasons, the volume rightfully takes its place within the fields of art history, cultural history, and the study of animals in Antiquity.’ [translated] – Sebastián Uribe Rodríguez (2026): Gerión, 44(1)
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‘I confess to being a dog lover, so I am particularly partial to the subject of this book. Dogs, like horses, played an essential role in the lives of ancient Athenians, and this study does justice to their variety, their charm, and their lifelong loyalty to their owners.’ - Jenifer Neils (2026): American Journal of Archaeology Volume 130
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‘Overall, Margariti has produced a book that is not only carefully crafted but also of high scientific quality. It addresses a large number of subjects: animal history, but also art history, iconography, studies on religion and society.
Indeed, this is one of the merits of approaching the past through animals: of course, it restores a place to long overlooked actors and renews reflection on many aspects of past societies. Such a book will show that this history is useful, even necessary.
Such are the major merits of this work, which is moreover abundantly illustrated throughout. It fully deserves its place in libraries and on the tables of researchers, and not only specialists in animal history.’ – Christophe Chandezon (2026): Bryn Mawr Classical Review
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