Reading Classics is pleased to introduce Dr. Katia Margariti, a Research Associate of the Department of Classics and expert in ancient animal studies and Athenian funerary art.
Figure 1: www.metmuseum.org
On August the 14th, Dr. Margariti was interviewed by Greek radio station SKAI 100,3 about her new book, Dogs in Athenian Sculpture and Vase-Painting of the Archaic and Classical Periods. Dr. Margariti and Spyros Mallis, the radio host, introduced the book and discussed the most important findings of her research: the various ways in which dogs were employed by Athenian artists who often demonstrated an impressive knowledge of canine body language; how such works of art can enrich our knowledge concerning the usefulness, many roles and position of (non-pariah) dogs in ancient Athens; the emphasis frequently placed on the special relationship, companionship and affection between humans and dogs; ancient Greek dog breeds; and the significance of ancient human-animal studies, a field of research that is currently flourishing across the world. You can listen to the interview here. The interview begins at 7:00 and continues until the end.
Margariti, Katia (2025). Dogs in Athenian Sculpture and Vase-Painting of the Archaic and Classical Periods. Bicester: Archaeopress.
https://www.archaeopress.com/Archaeopress/Products/9781803279978
Book description:
Figure 2: Margariti, Katia (2025). Dogs in Athenian Sculpture and Vase-Painting of the Archaic and Classical Periods. Bicester: Archaeopress.
Having earned the title of ‘man’s best friend’ through their millennia-long relationship with humans, dogs have been constantly present in human life. The great number of textual and artistic representations of canines testifies to the animal’s popularity in ancient Greece, where the existence of domesticated dogs has been traced back to the early Neolithic period. Dogs appear in more than 2,000 painted and sculpted scenes of Athenian art, serving a variety of roles: they are the faithful companions of warriors and riders, valuable collaborators in the hunt, cherished pets and status symbols. They are present in the gymnasium, the symposium and in domestic scenes. They are shown happily playing with children, providing protection and companionship for women, accompanying males in various aspects of their everyday lives. They are associated with gods and mythical heroes and are even depicted on funerary reliefs, accompanying their humans in death. They are variously employed by Athenian artists, functioning as symbols, visual pointers, space fillers, indicators of social status, stock or decorative figures. They may be used to express emotion, convey humor, emphasize important details or even make a statement. This book offers a thorough study and analysis of the iconography of dog depictions in Athenian sculpture and vase-painting, employing an interdisciplinary approach to explore their multifarious function and the extent to which they were influenced by the human-canine bond. It includes a catalogue of all 2,027 Athenian vases and sculptures that have been studied and is richly illustrated.