In recent decades archaeologists have translated the names of almost eighty
ancient Egyptian dogs, many of them prized for their hunting or working talents,
as indicated by names like Good Herdsman and Reliable. Other names
reflected their appearance, such as Blackie, Ebony, or One Who Is Fashioned as
an Arrow. Some were given numerical designations, such as The Fourth or
The Sixth (similar to the ancient Roman names Quintus and Sextus), possibly
describing their position in the litter. Grabber, Cook-pot, She of the
Town, Useless, and other unusual names were likely inspired by the quirky nature
of an individual animal, and expressed their master's humor or affection.
These names often were prefaced or followed by abu or jwjw --
ancient versions of "bow-wow" and "howler."
Mary Elizabeth Thurston once more in The Lost History of the Canine Race, p. 29.
No comments:
Post a Comment