When visiting Egyptian tombs, you can come across a dog’s paintings. Most likely it is a race of Saluki. What role did she play in the history of the Egyptian nobility?
If the Egyptians were in a dog crazy, it was a Persian greyhound – Saluki! “The Egyptian nobility appreciated him as a good companion, but also an incredibly powerful hunting dog. Saluki managed to run 30 – 35 miles per hour, so he was often used to hunt gazelles … To avoid dogs, the dogs were wounded. Injuries, ”says the historian.
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Connected with the god of the posthumous life
Saluki was very dear at the Pharaoh court and their price was higher than the camel, which was almost unprecedented at the same time. It was said about greyhounds that the spiritual guides and soul protectors were often associated with the god of posthumous life – Anubis – which was depicted with the head of Saluki. “At the time of the ancient Egypt, the Pharaohs were mummified and buried with their dogs Saluki. It was believed that they would allow them to make a smooth transition to the posthumous empire,” the historian says.
Dog and owner in one tomb
The tight relationship of Pharaoh and dog pet is also illustrated by the mummy of the dog 3500 years, which archaeologists found in the tomb of KV50 in the valley of the kings. Apparently it was an animal that belonged to Pharaoh Amenhotep II. The animal, despite the thousands of years of rest, had a flashy collar on its neck. Near his body was a bowl (probably originally with water) and a bottle with perfume, which the dog got as a gift for the other world.
A allowed Muslim dog
The Saluki breed represented a complete phenomenon in Egyptian religion. As the only dogs gained sacred status and could rest alongside their master, which was absolutely unthinkable at the same time. Interestingly, Saluki has kept their privileged position to this day. For example, Bedouins and Touagregs consider them the only kind of dog that a Muslim family can own. And this is quite unusual in the case of strict criteria of Muslim faith. On a world scale, Saluki is bred as a social breed and racing dogs.
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