Dog Sacrifice in the Ancient World: A Ritual Passage?

The aim of this paper is to examine different ritual uses of dogs in Italy from the Iron Age to the Roman Period. Recent excavations have revealed new evidence of dog burials and sacrifices in the pre-Roman and Roman worlds. Dogs were sometimes buried in pits in ancient cemeteries, separate from their masters. It is possible that they were intended to act as companions or guardians in the journey to the Underworld, although they may also have served a purification function. Dogs were also buried in votive bothroi near several sanctuaries - probably to signify a ritual offering - or buried under the foundations of buildings. Finally, dogs were often sacrificed to various goddesses, like Genita Mana and Hecate. Like their mistresses they were overseers of cyclical times, guardians of life and the awakening of vegetation. On the other hand, since dogs were linked with the world of Death, all this evidence suggests that the ritual use of dogs was also part of a ritual passage.