this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2023

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Mildly Interesting

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The Xoloitzcuintli is an ancient Aztec breed native to Mexico, once considered as guides for the dead on their journey to the underworld (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by tictac2@lemmy.world to c/mildlyinteresting@lemmy.world

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[–] Froggy@reddthat.com 78 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think it's worth pointing out that this is a reconstructed breed and not the lineage used by the Mexica. Those dogs died out with European contact. https://youtu.be/osMu6i2txFA

[–] spacedancer@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Did the original breed look anything like the current one? I was just about to say it's uncanny how the ancient Aztecs and Egyptians had a similar looking death-related mythological thing (this dog and Anubis).

[–] Froggy@reddthat.com 5 points 1 year ago

It's surprisingly hard to Google, but I found this: http://collection.imamuseum.org/artwork/34509/

Anubis has the head of a jackyl, which looks significantly different IRL: https://www.britannica.com/animal/African-golden-wolf