Tesem
Encyclopedia
Tesem was the Ancient Egyptian name for "hunting dog". In popular literature it denotes the prick-eared, leggy dog with a curled tail from the early Egyptian age, but it was also used with reference to the lop-eared "saluki/sloughi" type ; it was one of several types of dogs in Ancient Egypt
, particularly the latter type had an appearance most similar to that of a greyhound
.
, these being the pariah dog
, the greyhound
and the molosser
http://www.archive.org/stream/mannersandcusto00wilkgoog#page/n123/mode/2up. It is assumed that there were two types of greyhound-like breeds, these being the older Tesem http://www.archive.org/stream/lifeinancientegy00ermauoft#page/244/mode/2up and the saluki
/sloughi type http://www.archive.org/stream/lifeinancientegy00ermauoft#page/242/mode/2up. The prick-eared Tesem's origins are presumed to be from further south than Egypt
, from Nubia
and also the Land of Punt
, whose location is unclear but thought to be to the south east of Egypt on the Horn of Africa
.
A drawing of a Tesem type dog appears in Nagada
, dated from the Protodynastic Period of Egypt (dated 3200 BC to 3000 BC). The dogs were drawn with upright ears and a tightly curled tail. One of the earliest known recordings of these dogs is the "Khufu dog" from the tomb of King Khufu
, who reigned between 2609–2584 BC. This dog was named Akbaru, and was depicted wearing a collar.
They continued to appear during the Middle Kingdom
period (2055 BC and 1650 BC), but by the time of the New Kingdom
(1550 BC - 1069 BC), they were replaced by dogs with hanging ears and a straight tail. These dogs were of the saluki/sloughi type.
The Pharaoh Hound
of Malta
and the Cirneco dell'Etna
of Sicily
were both popularly and controversially thought to be possible descendants of the Tesem.
. These dogs were featured on monuments, and in wall paintings that showed their lean body with noticeable prick ears. They had a greyish-yellow coat
, with long legs and a broad prominent forehead. Their size exceeded the Pariah dog
s of the time. Their structure of their skeleton
was closer to the modern terrier
than that of the modern greyhound.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
, particularly the latter type had an appearance most similar to that of a greyhound
Greyhound
The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed...
.
History
Three main types of dogs are shown in Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
, these being the pariah dog
Pariah dog
The term pariah dog originally referred to Chinese/Indian feral dogs of a particular type, but it is now used by the United Kennel Club to refer to a purebred dog category.- Feral dogs of India :...
, the greyhound
Greyhound
The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed...
and the molosser
Molosser
Molosser is a category of large, solidly-built dog that includes several breeds, probably all descended from the same root stock. The name derives from Molossia, a subregion of ancient Epirus, ancient Greece, where the large shepherd dog was known as the Molossus.The proper noun "Mastiff", however,...
http://www.archive.org/stream/mannersandcusto00wilkgoog#page/n123/mode/2up. It is assumed that there were two types of greyhound-like breeds, these being the older Tesem http://www.archive.org/stream/lifeinancientegy00ermauoft#page/244/mode/2up and the saluki
Saluki
The Saluki, also known as the Royal Dog of Egypt and Persian Greyhound is one of the oldest known breeds of domesticated dog. From the period of the Middle Kingdom onwards, Saluki-like animals appear on the ancient Egyptian tombs of 2134 BC. They have connections both to the Bible and Imperial...
/sloughi type http://www.archive.org/stream/lifeinancientegy00ermauoft#page/242/mode/2up. The prick-eared Tesem's origins are presumed to be from further south than Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, from Nubia
Nubia
Nubia is a region along the Nile river, which is located in northern Sudan and southern Egypt.There were a number of small Nubian kingdoms throughout the Middle Ages, the last of which collapsed in 1504, when Nubia became divided between Egypt and the Sennar sultanate resulting in the Arabization...
and also the Land of Punt
Land of Punt
The Land of Punt, also called Pwenet, or Pwene by the ancient Egyptians, was a trading partner known for producing and exporting gold, aromatic resins, African blackwood, ebony, ivory, slaves and wild animals...
, whose location is unclear but thought to be to the south east of Egypt on the Horn of Africa
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that juts hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. It is the easternmost projection of the African continent...
.
A drawing of a Tesem type dog appears in Nagada
Nagada
Nagada is the name of a town in ancient Egypt. It existed before and during the time of unification of Egypt into one nation, the so-called Protodynastic Period of Egypt. The process of unification apparently started from Nagada....
, dated from the Protodynastic Period of Egypt (dated 3200 BC to 3000 BC). The dogs were drawn with upright ears and a tightly curled tail. One of the earliest known recordings of these dogs is the "Khufu dog" from the tomb of King Khufu
Khufu
Khufu , also known as Cheops or, in Manetho, Suphis , was a Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's Old Kingdom. He reigned from around 2589 to 2566 BC. Khufu was the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty. He is generally accepted as being the builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of...
, who reigned between 2609–2584 BC. This dog was named Akbaru, and was depicted wearing a collar.
They continued to appear during the Middle Kingdom
Middle Kingdom of Egypt
The Middle Kingdom of Egypt is the period in the history of ancient Egypt stretching from the establishment of the Eleventh Dynasty to the end of the Fourteenth Dynasty, between 2055 BC and 1650 BC, although some writers include the Thirteenth and Fourteenth dynasties in the Second Intermediate...
period (2055 BC and 1650 BC), but by the time of the New Kingdom
New Kingdom
The New Kingdom of Egypt, also referred to as the Egyptian Empire is the period in ancient Egyptian history between the 16th century BC and the 11th century BC, covering the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties of Egypt....
(1550 BC - 1069 BC), they were replaced by dogs with hanging ears and a straight tail. These dogs were of the saluki/sloughi type.
The Pharaoh Hound
Pharaoh Hound
The Pharaoh Hound is a breed of dog and the national hound of the Mediterranean nation of Malta. Its native name is Kelb tal-Fenek in Maltese, which means "rabbit hound". The dog is the traditional hunting companion of Maltese outdoorsmen. The breed has no conclusive links with Ancient Egypt and...
of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and the Cirneco dell'Etna
Cirneco dell'Etna
The Cirneco dell'Etna is a small breed of dog originally from Sicily. This hound was historically used to hunt rabbits and can work for hours without food or water. The breed also has a keen sense of smell and is primarily built for endurance over harsh terrain such as that of Mount Etna...
of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
were both popularly and controversially thought to be possible descendants of the Tesem.
Description
Ancient Egyptians gave the name Tesem to the early curly tailed dogs that resembled a sighthoundSighthound
Sighthounds, also called gazehounds, are hounds that primarily hunt by speed and sight, instead of by scent and endurance as scent hounds do.-Appearance:...
. These dogs were featured on monuments, and in wall paintings that showed their lean body with noticeable prick ears. They had a greyish-yellow coat
Coat (dog)
The coat of the domestic dog refers to the hair that covers its body. A dog's coat may be a double coat, made up of a soft undercoat and a coarser topcoat, or a single coat, which lacks an undercoat...
, with long legs and a broad prominent forehead. Their size exceeded the Pariah dog
Pariah dog
The term pariah dog originally referred to Chinese/Indian feral dogs of a particular type, but it is now used by the United Kennel Club to refer to a purebred dog category.- Feral dogs of India :...
s of the time. Their structure of their skeleton
Dog anatomy
Dog anatomy includes the same internal structures that are in humans. Details of structures vary tremendously from breed to breed, more than in any other animal species, wild or domesticated, as dogs vary from the tiny Chihuahua to the giant Irish Wolfhound....
was closer to the modern terrier
Terrier
A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, very active and fearless dogs. Terrier breeds vary greatly in size from just a couple of pounds to over 70 pounds and are usually categorized by size or function...
than that of the modern greyhound.