Tesem (cynology)

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Illustration on the dog stele from the grave of Antef II around 2065 BC Chr.
As a tribute to the king are hyenas (top, identifiable by the tail ) and Greyhounds delivered

As Tesem (from ancient Egyptian Tjesem ( Dog tsm.png= ṯzm )) a dog shape is referred to in cynology , which is obtained from images from ancient Egypt . The light, greyhound-like built dog with erect ears and curled tail is one of the oldest known dog types and resembles several modern dog breeds from the Mediterranean area , which are grouped under the Podenco type. Ancient seafarers, such as the Phoenicians and Carthaginians , are said to have been responsible for its spread. In particular, the Podenco Ibicenco from the Balearic Islands and the Kelb tal-Fenek from Malta are often regarded as his descendants; the latter is from the FCI even officially Pharaoh Hound called (Pharaoh Hound). But whether there is actually a direct connection between the Tesem and these modern races has not been scientifically proven.

The oldest depiction of a curly-tailed, greyhound-like dog found on a bowl in Egypt dates back to the predynastic period (4th millennium BC) . Even later, at the time of the kings, representations of this type of dog can be found again and again in the design of hunting scenes in graves and on everyday objects. Its origins could lie in the Sahara , which at that time did not have today's desert character, but where steppes or savannas predominated and there were isolated forests in the peripheral areas. It is possible that the pariah dogs, which are still widespread in large parts of Africa , were among his ancestors there. The Basenji from Central Africa still has certain similarities with the Tesem, for example the characteristic curly tail.

Naming problem

The spelling Tesem is not phonetically correct. Based on the Egyptological makeshift pronunciation, the dog would have to be transcribed in German as Tjesem (pronunciation: Tschesem ); In scientific cynology, however, the spelling Tesem is traditionally used.

literature

  • Michael Rice: Swifter Than the Arrow. The Golden Hunting Hounds of Ancient Egypt. IB Tauris, London et al. 2006, ISBN 1-8451-1116-8 ( online access ).
  • Max Hilzheimer : The oldest relationships between Asia and Africa demonstrated in domestic animals. In: Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. Vol. 3, No. 4, 1930, ISSN  0001-9720 , pp. 472-483, ( PDF ).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Hunderevue magazine 8/2001