These marble greyhounds are among the most charming representations of “man’s best friend” to come down to us from antiquity. They were excavated at a place called “Dog Mountain” near Civita Lavinia (modern Lanuvio), Italy. Several other marble dogs were also found there: another similar pair of greuhounds, a sphinx with dog’s body, and two statues of Actaeon attacked by hounds. The site was once identified with the ruins of a palace of the Roman emperor Antonius Pius (reigned AD 138-161), who was born in the region. This is no longer accepted, and the sculpture cannot therefore be firmly dated, as previously thought, to his reign.



Found near Civita Lavinia (modern Lanuvio), Lazio, Italy, possibly II century AD.
Ht. 67 cm.
Townley Collection.