Dog
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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- "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." --Groucho Marx.
The domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a member of the Canidae family of the mammalian order Carnivora. The term "domestic dog" is generally used for both domesticated and feral varieties. The dog was the first domesticated animal and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and pet animal in human history. The word "dog" can also refer to the male of a canine species, as opposed to the word "bitch" which refers to the female of the species.
Mythology
In mythology, dogs often serve as pets or as watchdogs.
In Greek mythology, Cerberus is a three-headed watchdog who guards the gates of Hades. In Norse mythology, a bloody, four-eyed dog called Garmr guards Helheim. In Persian mythology, two four-eyed dogs guard the Chinvat Bridge. In Philippine mythology, Kimat who is the pet of Tadaklan, god of thunder, is responsible for lightning. In Welsh mythology, Annwn is guarded by Cŵn Annwn.
In Hindu mythology, Yama, the god of death owns two watch dogs who have four eyes. They are said to watch over the gates of Naraka.
In Judaism and Islam, dogs are viewed as unclean scavengers. In Christianity, dogs represent faithfulness. In Asian countries such as China, Korea, and Japan, dogs are viewed as kind protectors. The role of the dog in Chinese mythology includes a position as one of the twelve animals which cyclically represent years (the zodiacal dog).
See also
- "The Dog and the Vial" prose poem by Baudelaire
- An Andalusian Dog, film by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí
- From the Portfolio of Doggedness, a performance by Valie Export and Peter Weibel
- "I Wanna Be Your Dog", a 1969 song by the American rock band The Stooges