‘Beware of the Dog’: Secrets of Ancient Pompeii Mosaic Laid Bare by Archaeologist

As archaeologist Bethany Hughes explained, the mosaic in question served as the inspiration for “millions of modern doormats”.

The ancient Roman city of Pompeii, which was buried under layers of volcanic ash during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius nearly two thousand years ago, yielded a number of interesting archaeological discoveries that offer insights into the lives and customs of citizens of that long-gone empire.

According to the Daily Express, Bethany Hughes, archaeologist and presenter of the Channel 5 series “Secrets of Pompeii’s Greatest Treasures”, highlighted one particular find – a floor mosaic depicting a dog and bearing a warning that says “Cave Canem” which means “beware of the dog” in Latin.

Describing the mosaic as “one of the most celebrated, imitated, replicated artworks in the whole world”, and noting how it inspired “millions of modern doormats”, she confessed that she likes it for a number of reasons, “partly because of the story it tells and partly because of the skill of its making”.

She added that Pompeii was “a place where there were many crimes and often people didn’t go out at night”.

And as it turns out, the analysis of the remains of the dogs that got trapped in the city during the eruption allowed researchers to deduce the “identity of the canine guards” by comparing their results to the mosaics, Hughes remarked.

Sourse: sputniknews.com