Canis familiaris in Olbia Pontica: shepherds, hunters, pets, pariahs

Abstract

The present article explores dog breeding in one of the biggest ancient Greek states of the northern Black Sea shore, the polis of Olbia. It outlines the species composition of dog breeds kept by the Greeks: shepherds, scent hounds, greyhounds, toy dogs as well as pariah dogs. The author demonstrates that dog breeding in Olbia generally reflects all the trends common to the Greek world with some specific features, such as presence of breeds of Scythian or forest steppe origin.