Stola.org
Title
STOLA - Saluki Tree of Life Alliance
Description
The Saluki is thought to be the world's first domesticated dog, as old as the earliest known civilization. They have been called "living antiquities." Salukis are an ancient breed originating in the Fertile Crescent in the areas of Mesopotamia and Sumeria who have shared the lives of many peoples throughout the world including the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt, the Emperor of China, Persian nobles, English nobility and the humble homes of people worldwide who recognize them for their intelligence, speed and beauty. Salukis are sometimes known as the Royal Hound or the windhound because of their great speed and stamina. The Saluki appears on the Egyptian tombs of 2100 B.C. and more recent excavations of the still older Sumerian empire, estimated at 7000-6000 B.C. have produced carvings of obvious resemblance to the Saluki. Used to chase, catch and kill game such as rabbits and gazelle, they are members of the "Sighthound" group of dogs, those hounds who hunt with their eyes rather than their noses. Built for speed, the sighthound is capable of outrunning the game.
Salukis are thought to be ancestors of today's greyhound (they were once called Persian Greyhounds). When the Romans conquered Egypt they brought Salukis back to Rome and crossed them with other breeds to form the basis for modern greyhounds. Salukis were known throughout the Middle East and Asia, being the hunting dog of Egyptian Pharaohs, companion to the Emperor of China and Persian rulers. It has been said that whenever one sees references to "dog" in the Bible in a positive light, it refers to the Saluki. .
So great was the esteem in which the Saluki was held that his body was often mummified along with the bodies of the Pharaohs themselves. Salukis did not appear in Western Europe until the mid-1800s, when Florence Amherst brought a pair to England, but they were not bred there until the turn of the century. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in the U.S. in 1927. Today, Salukis are not a well known breed, but there are dedicated fanciers in many parts of the world keeping the breed alive and well, and as true to its original form and purpose as possible.
Contact
- STOLA-SalukiTreeof Life Alliance, Inc.
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- San Francisco CA
- United States 94118-1705
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- +1.4153877613
