This week I’m joined by archaeologist Dr. Alyce Cannon () for a conversation about dogs in the ancient world, archaeology, mythology, and one of the most devastating dog stories ever told.
When Odysseus finally returns to Ithaca after twenty years away, he arrives disguised as a beggar. No one recognizes him—not his servants, not his people, not even his wife.
But Argos knows.
Old, neglected, and near the end of his life, the faithful dog lifts his head, flattens his ears, and wags his tail. Odysseus recognizes him too, but cannot reveal himself without jeopardizing everything. He walks past.
Moments later, Argos dies.
Nearly 3,000 years later, audiences still remember that scene. It speaks to something timeless: loyalty, memory, recognition, and the extraordinary bond between humans and dogs.
In this episode, Dr. Cannon and I explore what stories like Argos can tell us about the ancient world, how dogs appear in mythology and the archaeological record, and why our relationship with them remains one of humanity’s most enduring partnerships.
Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or watch the full episode on YouTube
Why do dog stories hit us harder than almost any other kind of story?
In this episode of Ethnocynology, David Ian Howe sits down with classical canine scholar Dr. Alyce Cannon to explore dogs in mythology, history, literature, film, and popular culture. From Argos in The Odyssey to Seymour in Futurama, Hachikō, I Am Legend, and beyond, we examine why dogs have become humanity's most enduring symbols of loyalty, companionship, death, and remembrance.
We also dive into the role of dogs in ancient Greece, the Athenian plague, Diogenes and Cynic philosophy, dogs as psychopomps, and how canine-human relationships have shaped stories for thousands of years.
If you've ever cried over a dog in a movie, this episode explains why.
Guest: Dr. Alyce Cannon
Host: David Ian Howe
Dog Course: https://www.Fluent.pet/David
Merch: https://www.davidianowe.com/store
Timecodes:
0:00 Intro
1:48 Alyce's Work
4:59 Cynicism and Diogenes
09:38 Athenian Plaguye and Dogs
14:39 Psychopomps
18:40 Argos
27:23 Dogs Dying in Movies
31:54 Socializing with Dogs
35:48 Futurama
39:08 Greyfriars Bobby / Psychopomps
44:35 Lost
46:00 Dogs as Signals of Character
53:10 The Odyssey Film
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