The goddess’ best friend
Hunting Dog
The hunting dog is also attributed to the sculptor of the Rampin Rider. The statue was made in ca. 520 BCE and was part of a pair of dogs (fragments of the other animal are also preserved). The dog’s body is tense and muscular as the animal bends its legs in readiness to pursue its prey. The motive behind the dedication of the animal is not immediately clear but ancient sources record the dedication of animal figures to commemorate a successful hunt. Lions and wild boars were dedicated to other important sanctuaries (Delphi and Pergamon); the two Archaic dogs on the Acropolis may also honor such an occasion. Alternatively, the dogs may have served as guardians that flanked the entrance to a sanctuary.
As seen on
Acropolis Museum: the treasures of Athena