Beware of the dog (Beware of the dog), Mosaic 66 x 66 cm, I century B.C., from Pompeii, House of the Tragic Poet
In the novel Satyricon the Latin writer Petronius describes a scene where the protagonist is frightened by a very realistic mosaic representing a ferocious watchdog with the warning Beware of the dog.
As Trimalcione (*) was being carried away, a player with a tiny flute approached his head, and as if speaking secretly in his ear, he played for him all along the way. We came behind, already satiated with refinements, together with Agamemnon.
When we reached the door we found a sign posted where it was written: "Will the slave who goes out without his master's permission take a hundred sticks"
Just in the hall stood a green-clad concierge with a cherry-colored belt, peeling peas from a silver platter. Above the threshold hung a golden cage with a colorful magpie inside that greeted the guests.
I looked at these things in amazement when I had to jump back so abruptly that at times I broke my leg. I had seen on the left, and near the porter's lodge, a large dog tied to a chain, painted on the wall that looked alive, with all capital letters written underneath: BEWARE OF THE DOG. My companions laughed....(**).
satyricon, Petronius Arbiter ( 26 - 66 AD).
(*) Trimalcionico ( Ita ) adj. (pl. m. -ci), letter. - Worthy of Trimalcione or Trimalchione, a rich but rough freedman who, in the novel Satyricon by the Latin writer Petronius, prepares a spectacular dinner, however annoying the guests with the continuous explanations relating to the dishes presented and their preparation.
(**) They were very common at the entrance of the house, on the floor, the motto: hi !, and the warning: cave canem!
In the novel Satyricon the Latin writer Petronius describes a scene where the protagonist is frightened by a very realistic mosaic representing a ferocious guard dog and a notice: Cave Canem
"...While Trimalchio (*) was being carried away, a player approached his head with a tiny flute, and as if he were whispering in his ear, played for him all the way along. We followed behind, already full of refinements, together with Agamemnon.
Arriving at the door we found a sign posted where it was written: "The slave who comes out without the master's permission will take a hundred beatings"
Just by the entrance stood a doorman dressed in green with a cherry-colored belt, husking peas in a silver dish. Over the threshold hung a golden cage with a colorful magpie in it greeting guests.
I was amazed at these things, when I had to jump back so suddenly that I almost broke my leg. I had seen on the left, and near the porter's lodge, a large dog tied to a chain, painted on the wall that seemed alive, with the inscription below in all capital letters: BEWARE OF THE DOG. My classmates laughed…"
satyricon, Petronius Arbiter (26 - 66 AD)
(*) Commons were at the entrance to the house, on the floor, the motto: salve!, and the warning: Beware of the dog!
(**) trimalcionic agg. (pl. m. -there), letter. – Worthy of Trimalchio or Trimalchio, a rich but rough freedman who, in the novel Satyricon of the Latin writer Petronius, prepares a spectacular dinner, however annoying the guests with the continuous explanations relating to the food presented and their preparation.
