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The Judgment of Animals in Classical Greece: Animal Sculpture and ...

The Judgment of Animals in Classical Greece: Animal Sculpture and ...

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humans <strong>and</strong> led to its classification as a dangerous animal. Furthermore, the beat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong><br />

the dog as punishment for gobbl<strong>in</strong>g down stolen food exemplified its physical abuse,<br />

whereas the consumption <strong>of</strong> its flesh marked its status as no different from any other<br />

edible animal. Both these types <strong>of</strong> treatment <strong>and</strong> the callous views <strong>of</strong> the dog suggest a<br />

negative attitude that contrasts sharply with the one mentioned above.<br />

<strong>The</strong> discussion <strong>of</strong> the texts that convey this contradictory attitude is divided <strong>in</strong>to<br />

three sections: Section 1 surveys the evidence for the presence <strong>of</strong> the animal <strong>in</strong> the<br />

<strong>Classical</strong> Greek household, its role as a guardian, <strong>and</strong> the contradiction evident <strong>in</strong> its<br />

loyal <strong>and</strong>, at the same time, treacherous behavior. <strong>The</strong> section also discusses the<br />

popularity <strong>of</strong> the Molossian breed <strong>of</strong> guard dogs. Section 2 presents evidence that refers<br />

to the feed<strong>in</strong>g behavior <strong>of</strong> the dog, that is, its propensity for steal<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> eat<strong>in</strong>g up food,<br />

its cunn<strong>in</strong>g behavior, <strong>and</strong> the punishment correspond<strong>in</strong>g to its <strong>of</strong>fense. In addition, the<br />

section discusses the care that the animal received by hav<strong>in</strong>g its food provided, but also<br />

its behavior as a scavenger, <strong>and</strong> ideas regard<strong>in</strong>g the orig<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> its savage nature. Section 3<br />

is a survey <strong>of</strong> testimony that refers to the practice <strong>of</strong> eat<strong>in</strong>g dogs as a marker <strong>of</strong> social<br />

class, <strong>and</strong> also as a dietary treatment for certa<strong>in</strong> diseases. <strong>The</strong> arrangement <strong>of</strong> the texts<br />

with<strong>in</strong> each section is chronological with the exception <strong>of</strong> a few <strong>in</strong>stances where<br />

chronology has given way to other factors to further the cohesion <strong>of</strong> the argument.<br />

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