[Sidenote: Ovid. Fast. L. +iii.+]
Pallada Cecropiæ, Minoïa Creta Dianam,
Vulcanum tellus Hypsipilæa, colit,...
we naturally look for a race of dogs deriving a local name from her
favourite isle. And, accordingly, connected with the last-mentioned
tribe of Canes Venatici, we have the Cretan and Carian, powerful,
quick-scented, nimble hounds; whom it would be wrong unnaturally to
dissever, as having no marked physical peculiarities. Indeed from their
parity of character, and supposed identity of origin, the hounds of
Crete, and its neighbouring continent of Caria, have generally been
united in one family.
[Sidenote: De Naturâ Animal. L. +iii.+ c. +ii.+]
[Sidenote: De Venat. c. +iii.+]
Ælian describes the κύων Κρῆσσα κούφη, καὶ ἁλτικὴ, καὶ ὀρειβασίαις
σύντροφος. By Seneca the Cretans are called pugnacious—“pugnaces
Cressæ;” and by Claudian, wire-haired—“Hirsutæque fremunt Cressæ.”
Arrian, when speaking of the Segusian hounds of Celtica, their
unsightly aspect, their noisy howl, and extraordinary sagacity of nose,
indirectly proves the speed and keen-scentedness of the Carian and
Cretan. Oppian enjoins the hound of Crete to be crossed with that of
Pannonia, and the Carian, as if different, with the Thracian,
[Sidenote: Cyneg. L. +i.+ vs. 394.]
ἐπιμίσγεο Παίοσι Κρῆτας,
Κᾶρας Θρηϊκίοις....
but, it is probable, the Pannonian and Thracian resembled each other as
much as the Cretan and Carian.
[Sidenote: Pollucis Onomast. L. +v.+ c. +v.+]
Two sub-varieties are recorded by Julius Pollux under the titles of
διάπονοι and πάριπποι:—the former so called from their bustling,
indefatigable character—τὰς νύκτας ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐν ταῖς πρὸς τὰ
θηρία μάχαις ἐπιλαμβάνειν, καὶ πολλάκις παρευνασθέντας τοῖς θηρίοις
μεθ’ ἡμέραν ἄρχεσθαι τῆς μάχης; the latter, from their running at
the horse’s side—τοῖς ἵπποις συνθέουσιν οὔτε προθέοντες οὔτε μὴν
ἀπολειπόμενοι.
[Sidenote: Natalis Comes de Venat. L. +i.+]
Cecropius catulus est quem dixêre parippum.
[Sidenote: Arriani de Venat. c. +iii.+]
[Sidenote: Ejusdem c. +ii.+]
To these the courser of Nicomedia adds a third sub-variety, seemingly
produced by the union of the former two—αἱ διάπονοι ἀπὸ τοῦ φιλοπονεῖν,
καὶ αἱ ἰταμαὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὀξέως, καὶ αἱ μικταὶ ἀπ’ ἀμφοῖν; the ἰταμαὶ
probably answering to the πάριπποι of the philologist. On the authority
of Arrian, we conclude the Cretan and Carian modes of hunting to have
been the same as generally practised in Greece—such as are described at
large by the elder Xenophon in his Cynegeticus. See Meursii Opera, Tom.
+iii.+ c. +vii.+ _Creta._
Though not used by the elder Xenophon in the common hare-chase, the
Cretans are recommended for boar-hunting, and were sometimes employed
in pursuit of deer.
[Sidenote: Incert. Auctor apud Stephani Schediasm. L. +v.+ sch. +xvii.+]
Κρῆσσα κύων ἐλάφοιο κατ’ ἴχνιον ἔδραμε γόργως—
[Sidenote: Hor. Lib. +i.+ Od. +vi.+]
How beautifully is their style of hunting described by the poet Varius,
“Mæonii carminis ales,” in the fragment preserved by Macrobius!