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Shared September 13, 2026
Aristotle told a strange story about some Iranian dogs: that they were created by mating a female dog with a tiger!
But behind this legend, there is a more real story; powerful dogs that were highly valued in ancient Iran for hunting and confronting large animals such as lions.
Greek and Roman sources mention Hyrcanian, Median, Kerman and Elymian dogs and even write about the cost and resources spent on keeping court dogs.
But the story is not just about dogs; it is about man's relationship with the Iranian lion: an animal that was both a symbol of power and glory and, when it became a threat, man took action to eliminate it.
How can an animal be both sacred and an enemy?
#Aristotle #AncientIran #IranianDog #IranianLion #Darius #Hyrcanian #HistoryofIran #Wildlife
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