The first pharaoh hounds recorded to have left Malta were in the 1930s, but only in the 1950s and 60s was there a significant effort mounted to establish them in Britain and America. The pharaoh hound is known as the Kelb-tal Fenek in Malta, where it is now the national dog. The isolation of Malta allowed them to breed true for thousands of years, their physiques honed and tested by the need to earn their keep catching rabbits for the pot. Yet for centuries, the original Egyptian hounds were assumed to be extinct - until these dogs, almost certainly the descendents of Egyptian hounds traded by sea-going Phoenicians, were discovered on the island of Malta. The pharaoh hound looks as though it has just stepped off the walls of an Egyptian tomb or returned from a hunt with an Egyptian pharaoh. If you like to groom, you are out of luck.
A soft bed, a warm house and a daily run are among the things they consider necessities of life. They appreciate the finer things in life, but can adapt to far less. His early forebears lived in luxury as esteemed coursers and, later, hunted to keep themselves and their poor families fed. The pharaoh hound is the prince and the pauper of dogdom. Few breeds can claim to match this breed's patience and gentleness with children, and they get along well with other dogs. The pharaoh is sensitive and aloof and cautious with strangers. He prefers to lie near you, but not on you.
Indoors, the pharaoh hound is calm, quiet and clean, content to stretch out on your best sofa and sleep as long as you have given him a daily run or romp. Nobody ever accused a pharaoh of being an obedience wiz, or of having any ability as a watchdog or protection dog. They cannot be let off lead in an unfenced area without the danger of them running after something and into a roadway. Like all sighthounds, pharaoh hounds are chasers. Both breeds have soft, close coats that are great to stroke! Personality: Like the Ibizan Hound, he comes only in shades of red to fawn but, unlike the Ibizan, the Pharaoh can have no more than a bit of white on the toes, chest, forehead and tail tip. 450.00 Add To Wish List The Three Egyptian Canopic Jars of the Pharaoh's Tomb. His lines tend to be less angular, and he is generally not as extreme in any feature. The Pharaoh's Royal Egyptian Hound Statue: Anubis, Set of Two. The Pharaoh tends to be smaller (from 21 to 25 inches in height, and 45 to 55 pounds). Many people confuse the pharaoh with the Ibizan hound. He makes no delay in hunting, his face glows like a God and delights to do his work." Even then, one of the most delightful traits of this breed was worthy of comment: The pharaoh hound blushes when excited. Even the legs are only moderately angulated, indicating the build of a dog that combines considerable stamina with speed.Īn inscription from the XIX Egyptian dynasty reads: "The red, long-tailed dog goes at night into the stalls of the hills. Still, the breed retains greyhound-like features: long, slender legs, relatively narrow body, tucked up waist, slightly arched loin and long tail - but everything is less so than in a greyhound. The pharaoh is one of the most moderate of the sighthounds, lacking the exaggerated raciness seen in others of this family. The large, erect ears are a hallmark of the breed. One very famous example was in 1922 when archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamen, a pharaoh who died when he was only nineteen.No better idea can be had of the pharaoh hound than that gained by looking at statues of Anubis, the dog (or jackal) god. Explorers and archaeologists have discovered these tombs and learned a great deal about ancient Egyptian society from them. Hatshepsut, in particular, was a successful ruler, but many inscriptions and monuments about her were destroyed after her death-perhaps to stop future women from becoming pharaohs.Īfter their deaths, many pharaohs were entombed and surrounded by riches they were meant to use in the afterlife. Pharaohs were typically male, although there were some noteworthy female leaders, like Hatshepsut and Cleopatra. Though there is some debate among experts, many believe he was the first ruler to unite upper and lower Egypt (this is why pharaohs hold the title of “lord of two lands”). Many scholars believe the first pharaoh was Narmer, also called Menes. As a statesman, the pharaoh made laws, waged war, collected taxes, and oversaw all the land in Egypt (which was owned by the pharaoh). Maintaining religious harmony and participating in ceremonies were part of the pharaoh’s role as head of the religion. While early Egyptian rulers were called “kings,” over time, the name “pharaoh” stuck.Īs the religious leader of the Egyptians, the pharaoh was considered the divine intermediary between the gods and Egyptians. The word “ pharaoh” means “Great House,” a reference to the palace where the pharaoh resides. As ancient Egyptian rulers, pharaohs were both the heads of state and the religious leaders of their people.