Peritas

[Gemmini]

I have recently read the books about alexander from Valerio Massiomo Manfredi. I know it is a novel but it includes I think all the important facts about alexander from his birth until his death. I am just courious, cause the author discribes his dog, Peritas, to be a very large animal. I am interested in what breed Peritas was and if the dog was really so big? Just a small notice I have to make..The story of alexander is often dicribed as a story full of glory, honour,... but I think it that Alexander never enjoyed his life, cause his mind was always torn into two parts...he wanted to come to the end of the world, but to achieve this goal he left his so loved country with the whole of his family, on the way, he lost even more good friends..I was not always the same mind as he, cause I think the problem with Filotas and later Parmenion could be solved without sheeding of blood.Jakob

[marcus]

Hi Jakob,I'm not sure whether Peritas' breed is ever mentioned, but if he came from Macedonia it's likely he was a hunting dog from Molossia - which were known to be large (and probably quite ferocious). I have no doubt that is the breed Manfredi had in mind when he wrote about Peritas.All the bestMarcus

[maciek]

Hello Jacob!Alexander's dog is only mentioned with no description in Plutarchus book. So we can only suppose (what Marcus does) how it could looked like.
I don't think that Alex missed his family or country. His horizonts was much beyond that. I believe that he had his empire in mind starting conquest and he was fully absorbed by military and political strategy and tactic or administration of newly conquered regions.
Maciek

[biekie]

I think he's right in one way. Alexander's mind probably was torn apart in 2 worlds. Yes, he was a military man, with all his dreams to conquer the whole known world and beyond. But he also was the man who had a hunger for love, afection, etc. In one way he was the poet who didn't write poetry but lived poetry. "To make the myths".

[maciek]

Heh that's why I like so much this forum... Apart from very intelligent discussions sometimes such romantic sentences are stated here.
Maciek

[ruthaki]

In the acropolis museum in Athens there is a fine sculpture of a Greek dog. It's one of my favorites and each time I've been there I stand beside it, study it. It is so realistic. I'm not sure exactly what modern breed I'd compare it to, perhaps a Weimeraner or one of the sleek, muscular hounds used for hunting. I would imagine the Molossians may have been like that one. They must have been tough, fearless hounds as they used them for boar hunting and the boars are very vicious creatures. ruthaki

[S]

Greetings,
If memory serves, there were three major "types" of dogs- the smaller hunting dogs, larger hunting hounds and the heavier "guard" types similar to the modern Anatolian and Caucasian. Of course, we have to assume there were a lot of "mutts", also...in fact, I would guess that the majority of dogs were a fairly mixed lot. Unfortunately, modern breeders have been trying to breed back to "Alexander's dog" and so far, I believe there are two primary breeds at this time claiming the title: a medium sized hunting type hound and a dog that is similar to the Caucasian. Sadly, the Caucasian type is being marketed in America and Europe to appeal to the worst of immature egos the same way the Anatolian, Caucasian, Dogo, mastiffs, Filas and other specialized breeds (that were not originally intended to make a small person feel big) have been marketed Regards,
Sikander

[rollsrite]

i don't know the type of dog peritas was but i know it was a gift when he was arguing with his father, this gift was given to him when he was a young boy and he loved him and even let him sleep with him. i will read the book you mentioned but all you gave was the author? i want you to read mary renault"s the persian boy. it also is a novel but shows you a whole other side of alexander. you mentioned alexander leaving home and his loved one's. the only one he left behind was his mother and she always was a pain to hom and the quote is" she charged a lot for the nine months of lodging". to alexander he wanted to see the world and bring together all nations under one rule and bring different peoples together. he felt all peoples were to be respected unlike the greeks who thought they were the superior race. read mary renault and you will see he did very much enjoy his life. he was born to be a man od vision. tina dunlap

[maciek]

Well I had to miss that. Interesting what dog is this.

[matz]

Robust, brave, loyal. Would that fit the description of Alexander's dog?Initially thought to originate in Asia Minor, now considered native to the Balkans:
http://www.unet.com.mk/sharplaninec/
http://www.kef.com.mk/I still have vivid memories of Marko, my grandfather's shar-planinets...

[smittysmitty]

'The Hunt' painting from the tomb of Vergina may be a good place to start if attempting to identify the type of dog breed used by Makedones. I no nothing of such matters, however the dogs depicted in the painting look nothing like the ones you posted Matz, unless they've evolved?
cheers!

[S]

Greetings Smitty,Yes, for hunting scenes with dogs the mosaics and paintings are a good place to start. As I mentioned earlier, it is beleived there were three primary breed types known to have existed (again, I am also assuming mixed breeds were common)- the smaller hunting type dog, the larger hunting dog and the heavy guard dog..

The Caucasian, Sharplainic (sp), Anatolian and a few other breeds were developed from ancient types (rather than specific breeds), so Maciek is correct that the Shar could well reflect a *type* that existed at the time. I was told there is an internet site focusing on this issue but I cannot recall what it was.. will try to find it unless someone else knows the URL?Regards,
Sikander

[S]

Greetings Ruthaki,I cannot think the hunting dogs would be much unlike hunting dogs today that tackle boars, lions, bears and such. I have utmost respect for their tenacity in the hunt and their courage to bring an animal to bay.

If I recall correctly, the Molossian types were bred more for protection, similar to the distinction today between breeds. Generally, hunting dogs are tenacious, courageous and "safe" in most cases for people (including strangers), whereas guard dogs are usually reliable towards their owner and family but less predictable around other people, espcially strangers. Hunting dogs are usually developed to respond to commands from most people, guard dogs are taught to be fairly independent in deciding who represents a danger to family or flock- this is what makes them less predictable. Regards,
Sikander

[dean]

Hello, without wishing to go much off the plot..Just out of coincidence I was reading Arrian and the way Bessus was dealt with by Alexander- that he had a "dog collar" placed around the man's neck and had him scourged before being taken away for execution. Two primary sources attest to this- Ptolemy and Aristobulus.Now what I was wondering this morning was how 300 years before Christ such a thing as a dog collar would have existed...But since dogs were used in hunting boar etc I suppose that later they must have been leashed at some point using the collar.Best regards,
Dean.

[Gemmini]

Greetings to allThank you for your informations about Peritas, you helped me a lot. The anatolian and the caucasian could fit the decription made by Valerio Massimo Manfredi. One of you asked for the title of the book. In fact, there are three books, they all have the title "Alexander the great", the subtitles are: 1 - son of dreams, 2 - amons dunes, 3 - at the end of the world. I have to say that the books impresed me a lot. I can just recomend it.