Northwest Greyhound Advocate Progrma

		Greyhounds in History
		In ancient Egypt greyhounds were mummified and buried with their owners and the tombs were decorated with Greyhound figures Most valued by the Egyptian Pharaohs, adored for its speed, stamina, grace and loyalty, the greyhound rode upon his master's camel, shared his master's tent and wore the same amulets to ward off evil spirits. The only event more important than the birth of a greyhound in the master's house was the birth of a son. The mythical Greek Goddess Diana is usually pictured with a greyhound at her side. Greyhound Racing started in England as a sport for the nobility, in 1014, King Canute of England enacted the Forest Laws which meant only nobleman could own or hunt with greyhounds. The law also stated that the destruction of a Greyhound should carry the same capital punishment as the murder of a man. This breed's modern English name has been traced back to a middle English "Greihound" which originated in an Icelandic "Greyhundr" by way of an old English name "Grighund". All this travel from a dog whose earliest mention is in pharonic Egypt. In Homer's "Odyssey" the faithful hound Argus that recognized Odysseus, when no one else did was a Greyhound. Greyhounds came to the New World in 1493 on Columbus' second expedition. The first Greyhound arrived in Australia with Captain Cook in 1770. During the Renaissance, a white greyhound symbolized power and majesty Greyhounds are mentioned or featured in 11 of Shakespeare's plays. In 1804, Australia issued a proclamation ordering the destruction of all dogs EXCEPT greyhounds and sheepdogs. President Abraham Lincoln had a greyhound on his family coat-of-arms. Our American General Custer was a big greyhound fancier.

Greyhounds in History