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This tiny carved dog captures how much ancient Egyptians adored pets. The figure, measuring 18 centimeters long, was carved from ivory by an unknown artisan between 1390 and 1352 B.C.
The “barking” dog once belonged to Howard Carter, the Egyptologist who discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. The little figure was found in one of the New Kingdom tombs (1550–1070 B.C.). Today, this rare artifact lives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
The toy has a lever that lets the carved dog snap its jaws, revealing a red tongue as it appears to leap. According to The Met, the lever was originally held in place by a leather cord threaded through small holes. Over time, the cord was replaced with a metal pin secured to the dog’s shoulder, as reported by Live Science.
What else is known about this exhibit?
It’s unclear exactly where Howard Carter found the figure. The Metropolitan Museum suggests the ivory dog may have been placed in an elite tomb during the reign of Amenhotep III, Tutankhamun’s grandfather, in the 14th century B.C. Scholars debate the figure’s purpose: it could have been a toy or a magical or ceremonial object.
The figure is a reminder that dogs were beloved pets about 3,400 years ago. While some dogs were used for hunting, herding livestock, or guarding, many were simply cherished companions. This sculpture likely depicts a domesticated dog, museum curator Catherine Rerick explained.
During the New Kingdom (1550–1070 B.C.), dog collars became increasingly elaborate. It was not uncommon to find a dog’s name inscribed on a collar.
The breed of the ivory dog remains unclear. The Metropolitan Museum notes that ancient Egyptians favored energetic breeds.
Dogs were also associated with Anubis, the god of the afterlife. People often saw dogs as intermediaries between the living and the dead. Killing a dog—especially one wearing a collar—was treated as a serious crime. Families mourned their pets much like they mourned a deceased relative. Ancient Egyptians believed they would be reunited with their dogs in the afterlife. No wonder they mummified dogs and buried them in special cemeteries for domesticated animals.
