Peritas, Alexander’s dog

Alexander had a dog named Peritas. So much is certain, but when it comes to defining the breed or race of this dog, we quickly find ourselves among legends and mysteries. 

The story goes that Alexander received the dog as a puppy. The name Peritas seems to mean January in the Macedonian language. The dog generally is defined as a Molossian, a breed of fierce fighters that no longer exists and could be closely related to the Mastiff. It was especially loved for its speed, strength, and bravery. Other sources tend to believe that Peritas was a greyhound that Alexander brought up himself. 

The Molossian dog would fit the image of the conquering Alexander perfectly. It is said that he was an enormous, powerful dog that could fight as hard as any soldier. He would not hesitate to attack lions or elephants. Virgil confirms his talents: “Never with [Molossians] on guard, need you fear for your stalls a midnight thief, or onslaught of wolves, or Iberian brigands at your back.”  

Either legend or truth, Peritas would have jumped to bite the lip of an elephant about to attack Alexander during the Battle of Gaugamela.  

Another story is being reported from India during Alexander’s battle with the Malians. The soldiers had been slow to follow their king, exposing him to the full force of the enemy’s assault. Alexander was hit by a poisonous arrow while scaling the city wall (see: About the Death of Alexander the Great). Apparently, Peritas held the enemy off until the Macedonians joined up with Alexander. Mortally wounded, the faithful dog crawled to Alexander, laid his head in his lap, and died.  

In a more elaborate version, Leonnatus sent the dog to Alexander. The obedient Peritas valiantly fought his way through the Malians till he reached his badly wounded master and defended him from the attacking enemy until the Macedonian troops arrived. The deadly injured Peritas crawled to Alexander, laid his head in his lap, and died.  We will probably never know what happened exactly, but a statue of Peritas was erected at the entrance to the city that bears his name.  He enjoyed the same honors as Alexander’s horse, Bucephalus. 

Based on the wide number of ancient dog tombstones, we can safely say that Greeks kept their pets as their trusted companions and protectors – not unlike what we do today.  

Alexander is no exception as a dog lover. He kept a vast number of dogs that accompanied him in hunting and in war or were simply keeping him company. Which one of them is Peritas remains a mystery. I personally picture Peritas as being a greyhound, meaning he was not the hero so honored in India.  

The Greeks have left us many tombstone inscriptions in which they openly grieved the loss of their faithful companion. They cried and mourned them as we still do nowadays. One particularly poignant tombstone reads, “You who pass on this path, if you happen to see this monument, laugh not, I pray, though it is a dog’s grave. Tears fell for me, and the dust was heaped above me by a master’s hand”. 

Homer early on mentions Argos as the loyal friend of King Odysseus. The faithful dog recognizes his master when he returns home after twenty years. Odysseus, who wants initially to remain incognito, does not respond to his dog's affection, after which Argos lays back and dies.

Socrates took his philosophy so far as to attribute wisdom to dogs since they can distinguish their owner’s friends from their enemies. Diogenes (see: Alexander meeting Diogenes in Corinth) went as far as calling himself The Dog because "I flatter those who give me anything and bark at those who give me nothing." He had quite a sense of humor!  

Xenophon’s dog was called Impetus. He stated that a dog’s name was chosen with great care. Ancient Greeks are particularly fond of names that expressed power, courage, appearance, or speed.  In short, nothing new under the sun!