Venerated Dogs

Egypt                        : Dogs were idolised in Ancient Egypt. Members of the family shaved themselves to mourn a dead dog in the time of Herodotus. The 'watchful and faithful' Dog star, Sirius, heralded the vital annual overflow of the Nile and was worshipped for that reason. The ancient god Anubis was probably a jackal, not a dog, but was greatly venerated. Dogs in general were still esteemed for their sagacity in the time of Pythagoras, when the Egyptians believed that at the death of a human being the soul entered various animals.

Egyptian dogs were protected from being killed; they were never considered to be subordinate animals; and they were often temple guards.

Raj Prateek Verma                       http://dogalogueofraj.blogspot.com