Thread by @DocCrom

Ancient Artefact of the Day: It's been a hell of a day, so here's one to just cheer me up.

A Roman bronze statuette of a slightly wonky, but utterly adorable, dog, ca. 2nd-3rd Century AD. #AAOTD #Dog

Image: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (62.10.3)

The Roman fondness for dogs as both pets and useful hunting animals is well attested, but is really hammered home by characterful pieces such as this, although the lack of provenance is notable.

A similar phenomenon affects this 1st–2nd century AD example which - while deliciously derpy - cannot be contextualised.

Image: J. Paul Getty Museum (57.AB.16)

For an interesting study of some dog figurines in a Romano-British hoard context, see:

DURHAM, EMMA. “Style and Substance: Some Metal Figurines from South-West Britain.” Britannia, vol. 45, 2014, pp. 195–221.

jstor.org/stable/24737450

#AAOTD #Dog