The dog is the oldest domesticated animal, and its symbolism follows that long partnership: loyalty, protection, companionship and guidance. Across many cultures, the dog is the animal that stays.
Guardian and companion
Dogs have guarded homes, herded flocks and hunted alongside people for thousands of years, and art has recorded that bond from the earliest civilisations onwards.
The dogs of Gula
In ancient Mesopotamia the dog was the sacred animal of Gula, the goddess of healing. Figurines of dogs were dedicated at her temples, and the animal became closely associated with her care for the sick.
Faithful to the end
In medieval European art a dog at the feet of a sculpted figure on a tomb often stood for fidelity, the loyalty of a wife to her husband or of a vassal to his lord. The idea of the faithful hound runs through European stories, from Odysseus's old dog Argos, who recognises his master after twenty years, onwards.
The dog in other traditions
The dog is the eleventh animal of the Chinese zodiac, and in the Maya calendar it gives its name to the day sign Ok.
The dog in jewellery
A dog charm is one of the most personal animal designs: a companion, a guardian, a friend. You can see the AURYN Dog charm, or read our guide to animal symbolism.
