Territory of origin and use of molossus, distribution and main versions of the type of dog, the disappearance of the variety and the ancestor of which breeds is. Molossus or molossus was one of the most popular and famous canines of the ancient world. These "big guys" served as the main military dogs both among the Greeks and among the Romans in ancient times. The breed has appeared several times in ancient literature for eight hundred years. She was known and admired by some of the most famous people in history, including Aristotle, Alexander the Great, and Virgil. However, there is very little hard data and facts about the variety itself. Many of the allegations presented are highly unfounded.
For the past few centuries, it has been widely believed that molossos were mastiff-like dogs, and they became the ancestors of all other European and Middle Eastern species kept by humans for work purposes. In fact, these canines gave their name and genes to the group most commonly known as the "Molossers" (but are also often called mastiffs, dogs, alaunt and alanos). In recent years, the link between molossus and mastiffs has been questioned. Some experts and researchers argue that the breed representatives actually had average parameters and were an ordinary general-purpose animal or even a type of herding dog.
Territory of origin and use of molossus
The history of the variety begins with the Molossian tribe, an ancient people who inhabited the territory of Epirus. This ancient region was located in parts of modern Greece, Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro. The area was inhabited by a mixture of diverse tribes, some of them Greeks and others Illyrians. It is unclear exactly to whom the Molossians were counted among the Greeks or Illyrians, but they maintained close ties with a number of Greek cities, as well as with the Hellenized kingdom of Macedonia.
The tribe, on a large scale, mainly because of the war dogs, was considered one of the most powerful of all generations, the league epirote. It was said that their pets showed extreme cruelty in combat battles and that the enemy side was very afraid of them. Some sources claim that the Molossian people acquired these animals from the Persian army in the 5th century BC, during the period of joining forces with the Greek peoples to repel the invasion of the Balkans. Other evidence seems to indicate that this people developed their Molossian dogs from "local tailoring" dogs.
However, these animals nevertheless appeared and became famous throughout the Hellenic world, (the period between the death of Alexander the Great and the conquest of Rome in Greece (323 - 146-31 BC). The earliest known reference to the "Molossian dog" occurs from a play written in Athens by the ancient Greek comedian Aristophanes, who was called “the father of comedy.” The work was published in 411 BC, about eighty years after the end of the Greco-Roman wars.
In 347 BC, the famous Aristotle, the eminent philosopher of ancient Greece, described the variety in his treatise "History of Animals". The writings of this thinker may indicate that the Molossus was not a single breed, but rather a type or landrace. "Landrace" is a species of generally similar animals, but somewhat slightly different in appearance. Aristotle wrote: "Of the Molossian dog breeds, for example, those used in pursuit, there are almost the same, and in other places - but these shepherd dogs surpass others in size and courage when they are faced with the attacks of wild animals."
Apparently, this could mean that at least two more Molossian types existed: the hound and the livestock guard. Such facts will help to solve the mystery about why the physical descriptions of representatives of this species are so diverse. But it can also be assumed that the animals had many functions common among ancient canines (or even modern ones such as the rottweiler or labrador retriever). In fact, the laconian dog of sparta, which was said to be very similar to the molossus, was a reindeer herding and hunting pet.
Propagation of ancient molossi
Originally kept almost exclusively by peoples in a particular locality, this variety eventually spread throughout Greece. Close allies and neighbors, the Macedonians, with their Molossian war dogs, joined Philip II after his conquest of Greece in the 4th century BC. Better known, dogs of this type accompanied the armies of Alexander the Great when he conquered lands from Egypt to India. His mother was from the tribe where such animals first appeared.
After the death of the glorious military leader Alexander, the Greek empire split into numerous successor states, some of which retained similar canines. This collapse of the "Greek world" coincided with the rise of two great powers in the west, Rome and Carthage, each of which centered on the great thorium. For a while, these large states only gained remarkable strength and wielded tremendous influence and power. But, by 264 BC, it became clear that the equally vast Mediterranean was not vast enough to hold back the ambitions of Carthage and Rome. Over the next hundred years, the two empires waged three wars against each other, which became disastrously destructive and became known in history as the Punic Wars.
A few years earlier, the Romans had conquered Greek territory in southern Italy and Sicily, and the Greek authorities generally supported Carthage, both overtly and covertly. Fearing that the Greeks in the east were allied with the Carthaginians in the south and west, the Romans launched a series of military campaigns known as the Macedonian Wars, with the result that Greece became part of the Roman Empire. During these conflicts, the Roman warriors first encountered the huge molossus and were greatly impressed by its prowess on the battlefield.
They loved the breed very much and took it as their own. From the 2nd century BC until the collapse of the empire, the animal was the main military dog in the army of Rome. The Romans were highly skilled dog breeders and recognized that the molossus had many talents, including hunting, grazing, guarding property, and fighting war. The variety spread to the places where the legions of the great Rome passed, but it may have become the most popular and most numerous in Italy.
Versions about the type belonging of the breed ancient moloss
Although references to these dogs are often found in the literature, there are practically no ancient drawings that are perceived as universally belonging to the breed. Modern specialists usually state that the molossus was a mastiff-like dog. However, there are very few mastiff depictions found in Ancient Greece or Rome, and most of those that exist are highly debated. But, there are still illustrations that appear on numerous ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian artifacts.
In fact, Greco-Roman artists usually show skinny canines that look a lot like modern greyhounds. This led some connoisseurs to conclude that the molossus was not a mastiff at all, but rather a hound species. It may seem strange to put forward such versions of such a dog as a beast of war, but already in the 1500s, the Spaniards used similar canines to subjugate the Native Americans. And, for example, sloughi and azawakh from North Africa are still very cruel and serious guard animals.
Further evidence that the moloss is a hound comes from the Roman poet M. Aurelius Olympius Nemesian, born in Carthage, who wrote about ideal breeding methods for these dogs in a poem subsidized in 284 BC. He describes what the best female should be: "Able to work well … Tall, with straight limbs, have a tight chest and always come back when called." He also wrote how the dog's ears fell or folded as they ran.
At first glance, this depiction seems to be more indicative of a sighthound than a mastiff, but it is far from definitive. In fact, several varieties of mastiff have been developed specifically for hunting and baiting, most of which have straight legs and are very fast. Some mastiff-like specimens that may have fit these characteristics include the Great Dane, Dogo Argentino, Cane Corso, Fila Brasileiro, American Bulldog, and even a Rottweiler. (rottweiler).
Because the descriptions of molossus are unclear and somewhat contradictory, some researchers concluded that the dog was very general in appearance. They believe that the Molossus was actually a medium and versatile working breed. The two most commonly used comparisons are the Caterhoula leopard dog and the American pit bull terrier. These species are native to the United States of America and have always had a dedicated service to humans throughout history, including pig hunting, grazing, cousin fighting, property guarding, personal protection, crime fighting, and military use.
In addition, both breeds are quite diverse in terms of appearance. Depending on the lineage and the purpose for which they were bred, animals can be tall and lanky, bulky like a big "tank", or somewhere in between. While it is doubtful that these dogs have close genetic ties to molossus, it is possible that both could be very similar to the ancient species.
There is one piece of art that is generally, if not universally, considered a faithful depiction of a molossus. This is a statue that is located in the British Kingdom, known as Jenning's dog. The statue looks rather vague and resembles a number of modern rocks, presumably descended from molossus, and especially the Rottweiler. Jenning's dog, however, has a medium-length coat and a much less exaggerated mastiff head.
The dog depicted is almost identical to at least one modern breed of sarplaninac, better known in English as the Illyrian Sheepdog. The most ancient variety originated in Serbia, Albania and Macedonia. The Sharplanin Sheepdog is primarily used as a shepherd and guardian for the protection of animals and is said to be a courageous and fearless protector. The Yugoslav and Serbian military also used them as war pets. Sarplaninac not only looks almost identical to Jenning's dog, but serves the same function as molossus. They are also described almost identically, and perhaps most importantly, refer to the same region.
The history of the extinction of the ancient molossus
The Romans set various tasks for such dogs throughout the existence of their Empire. The pets attacked enemy troops, guarded Roman values, grazed herds, protected domestic animals, livestock and people from wild animals, and hunted various animals. The breed was also, apparently, a constant competitor in gladiatorial arenas, where it fought against canines from all over the world, all kinds of ferocious wild beasts and human slaves. Presumably, Molossus competed for the first time in the years following the Roman conquest of the British Kingdom.
The Dorim Celts possessed a truly massive military dog, known to the Romans as the British fighters (pugnaces Britanniae), which is surrounded by great mystery. Some claim they looked like modern English mastiffs, while others claim they were Irish wolfhounds. In any case, the Romans greatly admired the animal and exported it along with many other British breeds across the empire. It can be assumed that it is likely that the suppression of two varieties occurred. This crossing explains the large parameters of many of the putative offspring of the Molossus.
Beginning in the 2nd century AD, the Roman Empire began to decline. A series of economic crises, epidemics, barbarian invasions and many other factors led to the complete collapse of the Western Empire and the beginning of the Dark Ages. It is completely incomprehensible what became of the Molosians whom all the inhabitants of the Ancient World knew, admired and feared. They continued to be mentioned not only until the "decline" of the empire, but not after that.
Some researchers have suggested that such animals completely disappeared in the chaos that followed the fall of Rome. War times often lead to the extinction of many canine breeds, since they die in battle, their reproduction is stopped by breeders who are not up to it and understand that dogs at that time are extremely expensive to take care of. Those who classify the molossus as a hound usually adhere to this theory. Other experts say that the species disappeared gradually over a long period of time as a result of constant interbreeding with other animals.
What breeds is the ancestor of the ancient mollos?
A similar theory is for localized breeders who selectively bred their molossus lines to meet unique needs and preferences. Over time, these canines became quite diverse, and turned into completely separate species. Researchers leaning towards these two versions usually believe that the molossus was a mastiff-type dog and that was one of the main ancestors of all modern typical canines. Literally dozens of breeds are said to be descendants, including the American Bulldog, Great Dane, Rottweiler, Alano espanol, Saint Bernard, and Pug …
Interest in Molossus began to grow again during the Renaissance. During those years, Italian thinkers studied the classical history of the Roman Empire. There was a lot of interest in tying Italy of that time with the glory era of Ancient Rome. The molossus blood leads to the formation of two native Italian species, the guardian of the city's property, known as the neapolitan mastiff and the hunter, kept in the farmland, the unforgettable cane corso.
In fact, some compelling evidence has been presented to support such a link, although it has been observed that these explanations are highly contested. This theory was widely adopted by Carl Linnaeus, the great scientific taxonomist. He developed a modern classification system for all living things. The version received widespread promotion and won many adherents. Therefore, the different types of mastiffs are not known collectively as "molossers". Currently, molosser organizations successfully exist throughout the United States of America and around the world.
