Dogs are particularly popular in Britain, and include the group of five from the temple at Lydney, Gloucestershire (509, 547, 549, 550 and 551). They are shown in a variety of stances (standing, seated, reclining) and styles. The types of dogs depicted include graceful, larger species such as the hounds from Kirkby Thore, Cumbria (255), and Lydney (509) and the smaller terrier types such as Dog 235 from Carrawburgh (235). Five of the dogs wear collars, including seated figure 715 from Charsfield, Suffolk whose collar is decorated with punched dots. Similar punched dots also decorate the body, with three parallel lines down the outside of the upper front legs and a single line across the upper back. A rather unusual and stylised piece from Dallinghoo, Suffolk, depicts a dog with a long, thin body and overly large head (1066). His genitalia are emphasised and he holds a small animal, possibly a lamb, in his mouth (PAS database SF8669).
Dogs are often associated with healing, as well as with gods of the underworld such as Pluto and Serapis (Toynbee 1973, 123). Cerberus was the hound with multiple heads that guarded the gates to Hades, thus the idea of the dog as a monstrous creature was not foreign to Roman society. The figurines from Britain include a number of 'dog monsters' that show canines with fierce features and long protruding tongues. Two examples from Llys Awel, Conwy, were found with another stylised dog (1176, 1177 and 1178). Both are seated and have bodies that are heavily decorated with patterns of incisions, cross-hatching and herringbone. Figure 380 from Southbroom is now missing, but was published as Anubis (Boon 1973, 268 Taf. 59 no. 16). The illustration shows a standing creature with protruding tongue, a ridge from the back of his head to shoulders and rough coat, possibly patterned, across the forelegs, neck and shoulders. Finally there is 'Wolf god' 20, probably from the shrine at Woodeaton. This depicts a dog with a human body protruding from his mouth instead of a tongue. He also has a patterned mane down his back.
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