The Ice Age Hellhound: The Oldest Myth in the World?

[@DanDavisHistory]

The real oldest myths in the world are probably part of Australian peoples' mythology or the Jarawas or Sentinelese or other peoples who have continued to dwell in their lands for more than 40,000 years without outside influence before historical times. This myth cannot be older than the domestication of dogs but perhaps it developed from an even older version based on wolves. Speculation of course. Let me know of any other Paleolithic myths that you know about. Have you seen all my videos yet? Check out these playlists: People of the Bronze Age: kzbin.info/aero/PLUyGT3KDxwC8u4jG_tOjN-8-bsHxucUxn Bronze Age Warfare: kzbin.info/aero/PLUyGT3KDxwC8xD2S2Q1IqH_S_ocWwXWHv Medieval History: kzbin.info/aero/PLUyGT3KDxwC_Jh59Fp5aU5Fzj0oUXUkEJ

[@jackholloway1]

Not quite a myth as much folklore but a group of aborigines had an origin story that millennia previously they'd lived on the did did a mountain that one day caught fire and their ancestors had fled through a jungle and settled where they are now. This was dismissed by anthropologists but later geological analysis etc showed that an extinct volcano miles and miles away had last gone off roughly 12000 years previously and there is been a forest between the volcano and where the people lived in the 20th century. Amazing how a story can survive for so long

[@DanDavisHistory]

Yeah I think I saw an article or at least a headline about that. I hope it's true, that's amazing. Thanks Jack.

[@greatskytrollantidrama4473]

I like Native American Myths, especially the concepts that seem to be repeated the world over.

[@jezusbloodie]

All the myths, tbh

[@thoughtscanbedisease4495]

Crecganford does a great video on a myth of the great hunt where the sun gets stuck in a mammoths tusks as it's chased by hunters across the sky. Also gobekli tepe has similar art to Australia the three baskets myth. The six sisters myth (sometimes seven or five is in the America's and Australia) there are two others i can't remember that they share, i think the flood myth was debunked, the Australian flood myth was rising water at the end of the ice age, too recent to be of common origin (really wish i could find the source again). Also abstract symbols in cave art from when we left Africa already had a convention, and basically the cave art didn't change till the end of the ice age when people had to start farming and ranching(genevieve von petzinger). So we already all had a common culture from Africa. Look up dr lynne kelly to understand how these stories last so long.

[@vigilantsycamore8750]

There's also a common type of myth about Orion and the Pleiades, where there are initially seven sisters, but one of them is wounded/killed/goes missing after a hunter attacks the sisters Given that this myth is found in Australia and in Europe (as well as presumably other places), and there were actually originally 7 Pleiades visible with the naked eye before one of them shifted just out of view about 100,000 years ago, that would make this a myth that predates the migration out of Africa 70,000 years ago

[@indiowoods3160]

Similar myth in Native American culture regarding 7 sisters. It relates to the devils mound in Wyoming but instead of a hunter it’s a bear that kills one of the sisters

[@sykens587]

I heard that back in the day they used the 7 sisters as some sort of "eye test" that people with keen eyesight could still see merope in a clear night. so if that's true, I'm not sure if this myth really needs to be arisen from before the shift of the 7th star out of general eyesight

[@PalmettoNDN]

What a great comment. Thank you.

[@PalmettoNDN]

@@indiowoods3160 just to state for people that aren't aware, though I know you do, Native Americans are not homogeneous. There are groups that have less in common ethnically, linguistically and culturally than French do with the Japanese.

[@tyrlant2189]

@@PalmettoNDN no, French and Japanese are more different than any given native groups.

[@vanrensburgsgesicht]

I think this myth is so well-preserved because its exoteric nature can be easily seen in the night sky. The dog is identified as the star Sirius "Dog Star" in various cultures which guards the bridge, the Milky Way. I found its Indo-European root *sar- in many daughter languages with the meaning glowing or burning. Which makes sense, considering that Sirius was orange-red until the Middle Ages (it's white today). Therefore, Kerberos can be derived etymologically as "spotted with blood" or "stained with blood" (of the people who don't make it to the other side).

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you, very interesting! They talk about the Sirius connection in the chapter I used on the Path of Souls linked in the description but the script was already so long I left it all out. I read a long time ago some idea about why it's called the Dog Star - something to do with its position in the heavens corresponding with dogs mating time or something like that. I'll have to look into it. Thank you.

[@vanrensburgsgesicht]

I don't know about dogs but wolves mate from January to march or in the late winter. The time most associated with Sirius is the high summer when it reaches its highest position in the southern night sky. Here too you have the connection to heat, fire, burning, or glowing (it was once glowing red). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_days

[@vanrensburgsgesicht]

This is what i found in my notes on the Dog Star: to pruzz. sari = embers; pol. zar = glow, passion; thrak. sartas = bright red; perhaps heth. jarri = plague god; oldnorth. surt, sutur (supposedly from svart = black, but actually from *ser-) = fire giant; Greek seirios = the burning one; Ital. sera, serata = evening(red); skr. sura = light being; from idg. *ser- = red, reddish, glow; urvew. idg. *ker- = to burn; thus the "glowing one" or "the reddish burning one". The star Sirius had in the Middle Ages still a reddish coloring (documented by a manuscript of Gregory of Tours) and was called Lokabrenna "Lokis Brand" in Iceland. Sirius, according to the Iliad (22,30), brings the fiery blaze and is called (11,62) the corrupting star. The Riddle of the Edda vol.2 p.180 "Surt comes from the south with scorching embers; ...") (Völuspa 39.) The same root is present in one of the names for the goddess of the dawn but with a positive meaning: * SERATTA (my reconstruction of the name) to Celt. sirona = dawn (supposedly from stirona = star); avest. Ardvi Sura Anahita = dawn; germ. freyja syritha (supposedly from sy ritha = sow rider, probably folk etymological. from *syr = glow); pruzz. sari = embers; thrak. sartas = bright red; pol. zar = glow, passion; Greek. seirios = the burning one; Ital. sera, serata = evening (red); osset. dserassa = dawn; skr. sarasvati = dawn, sura = light being; pashtu. sur = red; from idg. *ser- = red, reddish, glow; urvew. idg. *ker- = burn with the -ending *-atta = water;

[@vanrensburgsgesicht]

As I read this again, there is a staggering similarity between Sirius (Garmr) called LOKABRENNA in Iceland and Sirius (Sharvara) in India. "Sharvara is identified with the constellation Canis Major, the other dog with Canis Minor, together they guard the gates of the netherworld, known as PITRILOKA or vaivasvataloka, which is the domain of Yama. Pitriloka means "land of the forefathers" (patrilocal?!). This reminds me of the old idea that the enlightened souls of the ancestors are the stars in the sky.

[@DanDavisHistory]

This is all completely fascinating, thank you so much.

[@BartJBols]

So basically Kerberos's real name is "spot", good to know.

[@laurahill9643]

The perfect name for such a Good Boy.

[@mweskamppp]

Maybe it was a hyena.

[@TarebossT]

@@laurahill9643 Who's a good boy, who's a good boy... *>smashes head with axe*

[@Rwsegee]

@@TarebossT See spot run

[@leeprochazka5420]

@@TarebossT then eats it

[@andrewhammel5714]

Interesting hypothesis. An interesting side note. I read that Alaskan Indians have a myth that the "dog originally lived with the wolf in the deep woods. But one night, during the subarctic winter the wolf told the dog to sneak into the village of man to steal fire, and bring it back to the wolfpack. The dog was discovered in the village by the humans, who proceeded to feed it salmon, and...the dog abandoned its mission to steal fire, and opted to live with man, and has done so ever since. Interesting how the ancient Greeks have the myth of Prometheus (the man who stole fire from the gods), and Alaskan natives believed that an animal, in turn, tried to steal fire from humans.

[@haleyguthrie3113]

I am half Native American (Quileute) and half Alaskan native (Tlinglet) and have never heard of a dog legend like that. So IDK. I also need to make it clear that unfortunately, many MANY of us have lost our languages and tales. It's important for me to explain this. We had no choice but to give over our children for boarding schools. We were not allowed to speak our languages off the reservations. We did not have religious sanctity in the US until the 1970s. Late 1970s. That means we were not allowed to ceremonies and traditional stories in the open, including our own reservations. Most of PNW natives believe in a hoop of life. Every animal is on the same hierarchy as humans. We are charged to care for our world, so they can care for us. Long haired dogs were kept for making clothes, we gave wolves salmon to create these dogs. It's a story told over and over - trade. Fair trade. We can be natural enemies, but do no harm for the better of the clan. To this day, this is true. Natives will tell you what to do in our wilds, what to watch for, "how to walk" so we don't offend animals while in their lands. In return, we live in harmony. It only means to live a life of prevention. Lock up food, lock up garbage, remain inside during bear migrations, etc etc All of our tribes are different. I may have just not heard that story or it could be a new story. A story does not have to be old for it to be of use.

[@andrewhammel5714]

@@haleyguthrie3113 Thats heart breaking to hear about how Canadian and American authorities destroyed so much of your culture and traditions. Wish I remembered where I heard the story, and could better document the story's authenticity. But I like the story because it implies that the relationship between man and dog was a two way creation....the animal initiated it as much as humans did- which is probably historically accurate even if it is mythologized in the story.

[@haleyguthrie3113]

@@andrewhammel5714 I know, maybe it was just a small tribe and I wouldn't know which tribe matches that story. But I need to say that for the most part, Americans and Canadians are respectful of us. We do have and work with many people trying to fix what had been done wrong to us. Amazing people fighting for us in "the system". It's important for me to say this....its not the citizens faults for what had been done before! The government did this, and in 90% of cases, citizens didn't know. Government accountability is our issue and not just one race.

[@arthurdowney2846]

This makes me think about Anubis, who served a similar role to the spirit dog guarding the path.

[@mikefabbi5127]

Yes good call. I could only think of the hounds of hell.

[@seekingsomethingshamanic]

unpu*

[@mikefabbi5127]

Is a Jackal a dog? Or is Anubis a Jackal or a dog? Close enough for me.

[@mikefabbi5127]

@@seekingsomethingshamanic I'm a "boomer and I don't get it. please explain unpu*. I'd rather not be seeking the hounds of hell.

[@seekingsomethingshamanic]

@@mikefabbi5127 Unpu is the proper egytian name of "anubis". "anubis" is greek. i just want people to use the right words. words are important.

[@glocrowhurst]

One explanation I've read for this is that dogs are seen as liminal creatures: they are the guardians of the border between life and death because, in the real world, they straddle the border between the human realm and that of animals.

[@tscottshea]

Aren't they also associated with cemeteries, and in some places, lived off the recently buried dead?

[@michaelwolff1694]

@@tscottshea I have an interesting story to share with you. My grand-puppy comes to stay with me, quite often. When I take him for walks, we tend to go to the nearby cemetery as it is nice and quite. One winter day, right after a big snowstorm, I was walking him and he fell through the snow, into a grave that had not been filled in properly.... I am assuming the funeral had just been the day before, and they quickly filled the hole before the storm hit or as it was hitting the area. Luckily, my grand-puppy was on a leash attached to his harness and he didn't fall too far. You could actually see the cement vault. So, we went home. I live in an apartment and one of my neighbours was in the hallway, and I told her about the grave and what happened to my grand-puppy. She was curious and so, I took her and my grand-puppy back to the cemetery... It was still very early in the morning, and the clouds were heavy and there was a snowy mist... almost like a thick fog. As we pulled up by the grave, where my grand puppy had fallen into, my grand puppy went crazy... he was barking at the window.. and scratching at the glass, frantically.... I asked my neighbour; "Do you see anyone one else in the cemetery?" She replied, "No...." We looked through the windows all around in every direction... there was no one and no other animals, there. My grand puppy wouldn't calm down no matter how we tried to calm him.... he was frantic and acting like someone was right at the window. My neighbour got freaked and asked me to take her out of the cemetery, right away. My grand puppy calmed down.... and I must say; he has never done anything like that, prior or since. So, it sure makes you wonder.

[@petergurry9652]

My knowledge of pre history has changed so much in the last 10 to 15 years or so. The bronze age especially I find so interesting. Have just received the three books in the Gods of Bronze series. Looking forward to reading them.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Awesome, I hope you enjoy the stories Peter. I find the Bronze Age especially interesting too, there's so much mystery still but there's enough to fire the imagination. I love it.

[@petergurry9652]

@@DanDavisHistory I remember seeing the 'Celtic' bronze age artefacts in the British Museum 30 or more years ago and thought they were outstanding.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Yeah we were taken to the British Museum repeatedly as children and it always blew my mind.

[@Kenshiroit]

Yes i just got the first book. Love the story

[@Goodmanperson55]

I've always been fascinated in the concept of myths and legends as some kind of cultural memory vaguely recalling the past. Discovering your channel which focuses a bit more on this aspect of myths has been a great experience for me.

[@gaufrid1956]

I learned recently that dogs form a bond with their favorite human which leads to release of oxytocin in their brains. Thus, a dog feels "love" in the same way that humans do for their partner, and mothers do for their children. This has been experimentally demonstrated. Perhaps our ancient ancestors felt this. On the note of multiple souls, tribes in the Bukidnon province here in Northern Mindanao Philippines traditionally believed in multiple souls. I understand my wife's tribe, the Higaonon, believed that there were seven souls in each person. If some went missing, the person would be ill. If all left, the person died.

[@Javier-il1xi]

Dogs don't feel love, as love is a symbolically determined emotion. Love dwells in time and our awareness of it and of the other. Dogs do feel affection, but they lack the language and symbols which make it love.

[@Dan_Kanerva]

@@Javier-il1xi so they do feel love then... is just that you undermine its value because they cannot give you poetry or a bouquet of roses . Got it

[@karamlevi]

I do hypnosis professionally and want to share with you Parts Integration technique. Look it up. It’s about unifying different personality / ideas deep inside us to align and cooperate. People gain much success in their lives because they are not conflicted and confused. Your share about 7 souls in one person truly resonates with me professionally. Outstanding share. Thank you sir!

[@gaufrid1956]

@@karamlevi daghang salamat! Thank you very much! I'll look up the technique you mentioned.

[@robertayoder2063]

@@Javier-il1xi your not smart

[@rabidspatula1013]

I read one theory that suggested that the common aspects of crossing a river and encountering a dog to reach the land of the dead were due to the real world conditions of Ice Age steppe life and not just metaphysical, though that aspect was undoubtedly a massive part of its cultural resonance. When people died the bodies were buried or exposed to the elements on the far bank of a river or stream. The theory is that this is both for not only ritual reasons but practical as well. It presented a physical barrier between the living and the dead, which would invariably draw canine scanvengers, not to mention potentially other carnivores. If one wished to visit the ancestors in the land of the dead, you would have to cross the river and negotiate with the dogs or wolves that were undoubtedly attempting to feed on the corpse.

[@garyfrancis6193]

That’s what I do.

[@franceslynch2615]

That makes a great deal of sense, thank you!

[@kitkat8231]

Fascinating

[@kaiserkater2308]

I do see some similarity with the red riding hod. Here me out! The red riding hood is a German Fairytale that evolved from an Germanic Pagan myth. The main Character is visiting her grandmother which is an ancestor. One could say that it evolved from a myth were a living being is trying to visit someone they are related to in any way but this person is already dead. The Wolf that she meets is a demonized form of the original canine deity that is present in many myths. The gifts she brings for her grandmother could have evolved from the things you have to bring the canine deity to pass. This is also similar to a version of the Eros and Psyche myth were Psyche feeds Cerberus with cake so she can get pass him. ( English is not my first language so don’t be too mad if I made some mistakes )

[@Strider_Bvlbaha]

That is an excellent interpretation of the Little Red Riding Hood story, it makes so much sense. Your English is good! You need never apologize for your English, as English (at least when it comes to spelling things) is a somewhat rubbish language & most native speakers get things like "too vs to" (which you nailed) wrong frequently. Tip from a native, though heavily dysgraphic, speaker regarding 'here' and 'hear'-- "here" is a place (spelled kinda like 'there' in the phrase "here and there"); "hear" as in 'to listen' is spelled like 'ear' with an added 'h'.

[@RedDevil9408]

Also red cord is used as a Ward against evil. Herders would use red strings for fence so wolves wouldn't pass. From what i know, sometimes works, sometimes not. It's magic, so i guess some people just do it the right way.

[@susanmccormick6022]

Kaiser Later:Your English is fine.Better than some English speakers.I never looked at Red Riding Hood that way before,thank you.Interesting slant on the story.

[@Nyctophora]

That's really interesting - it does make sense whether or not it is the origin. She is bringing gifts to an ancestor.

[@williewonka6694]

Interesting idea, especially considering the wolf had eaten the grandmother. I can see this tale being related to the story of a dog guarding the land of the dead.

[@FreeManFreeThought]

I forget which nation here in British Columbia it is, but there was a story about this people escaping from an advancing wall of ice; and the tale concludes that the people had to live on a specific island as a result. Several years ago archeological & geological studies confirmed that barring the supernatural elements tagged onto the story over the eons, the story had remained relatively true over an 8000+ year period of retelling. Oral histories are way more accurate than we give them credit for.

[@juwebles4352]

I heard that some societies that practice oral histories will pass stories on from grandparent to grandchild as to lessen the amount of iterations of the story, pretty interesting

[@libertyprime2013]

Freaky

[@letsdothis9063]

I have seen a documentary about that Really cool.

[@JLWoelf]

spirits are thought to be everywhere (where they go on death?) + dogs became actual guardians of settlements = where ever souls go, dogs will guard. that really makes sense.

[@stevewessex1053]

It's so strange that killing and eating dogs is considered to be so taboo in the northern peoples, that it cannot be mere coincidence. There has to be a solid (almost embedded in the psyches) connection as for thousands of years peoples have moved with their dogs as part of the tribe. Also its notable that people will pick up puppies found alone and care for them. Especially considering, soldier's who often bring back dogs that they have adopted as puppies in war zones. Thanks for the video.

[@jorgebarriosmur]

I have read that after adopting the first wolves, humans have been unconciously selecting (over thousends of generations) the ones capable of mimic (to a certain degree) human emotions with their faces. Original wolves, suposedly, were not capable of moving their eyebrows, for example (nowadays there could be some, do to mix with dogs), and were less expresive. This "natural" selection allows dogs to mimic expresion that could provoke empathy and simpathy in a receptive human, therefore, not beeing eaten and been take care of........... The nice puppys, are more likely to survive.........

[@nicholaseaves2591]

Mongols had a closer relationship to horses than any culture before or since and they still ate them

[@jordanhallmark1784]

​@@nicholaseaves2591 True, but on the other hand, horse meat has been haram in MOST Indo-European societies since we domesticated them; the mongols are not one of those people.

[@nicholaseaves2591]

@@jordanhallmark1784 I'm just pointing out from the OP that just because a group of people has a long history of working with a particular animal, doesn't stop them from eating it. Early american pioneers regularly ate their dogs when food resources were scarce

[@juwebles4352]

@Mëïstër Ëmm I think he’s referring to northern Europe but I could be wrong

[@chaosPneumatic]

New to your channel, but I wonder if you ever touched on the myths about the constellation Ursa Major? From Europe to the Americas there seems to be a common myth about a group of hunters chasing either a bear or elk and this scene becoming the constellation. I really love learning about prehistoric cultures and figuring out details about them hidden by time. So to learn of another reconstructed myth that could have gone back to the Upper Paleolithic is really exciting! So glad to have subscribed to your channel!

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you very much. Ah yes this is the Cosmic Hunt - quite possibly originating from the same Ancient North Eurasian source, indeed. I think I should probably do a video on that too. Thanks for subscribing, I hope you enjoy the other videos.

[@ArchYeomans]

This is one of my fascinations as I will see elements of shared linguistics with non-IE languages identifying bears such as in Basque, Estonian that are strikingly similar to the ancient hypothetical PIE h₂ŕ̥tḱos. Further, as you stated there is a common feature of the bear in non-Indo European cultures in the same constellation. I believe this is particularly true between IE and Native Americans but probably goes back to the age of haplogroup P* or K* before siblings R* and Q* existed.

[@mindblowing3202]

Ursa Major (the great bear) is a constellation. While Ursa major is circulating around the north star it is depicting the Svastika. The great bear also plays a big role in Russian/Slavic mythology and fairytales and some ancient sources tell a story of the Russian ancestors coming from a different constellation "Ursa Major" arriving on this planet millions of years ago before the arrival of other humanoid races, who also didn’t originate from earth. Fun fact: Ursa Major is also a Marvel character depicted as a bear, who is a Russian mutant.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

Now I feel reminded of the myth that if you call the bear by it's name, the bear will come, so people stopped using it's real name and used other descriptions, with "bear" just being a cognate of "brown"

[@AncientAmericas]

Excellent work! Thank you for including the sources. It is greatly appreciated!

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thanks very much! Glad you liked it.

[@Neshoba1337]

If I remember correctly, in Choctaw afterlife myth dogs are buried with out near their owner's burial location and serve as a guide as the spirit travels west. The log that spans the river has guardians on both sides (However they're not dogs) and the guardians would throw rocks and such to knock the spirit off of the log. If the spirit was brave enough and ignored the guardians they would make it across, but if they tried to dodge the objects thrown at them, they would fall into the river and be swept away.

[@MrChristianDT]

That must be a very, very old concept, then. There is a lesser known culture from Kentucky called the Indian Knoll Culture. They began approximately 8000 years ago, may have been the first people in the Americas to make mound structures, naturally transitioned into burying the dead in said mounds & every burial they've found also includes a dog. Some Siouan have claimed them as an ancestor & think they may have been the precursors to the Adena Culture of 3000 years ago in Ohio, but linguists think that there is an extremely old common linguistic ancestor between the Siouan, Muskogean & Hokan language families. I have no clue if we lost this concept of a dog guarding the way to the afterlife, or not. I've heard of a spirit that people visit on the way who judges those who are worthy to carry on into the afterlife. I don't think Iroquois had this concept either, but they do believe in a river guarded by all sorts of monsters being the last obstacle between the soul & the afterlife on their journey. I've never heard of this dog concept outside of the Caribbean & a few Central American tribes, so I'm finding this whole concept pretty interesting to see how much more widespread it is. That's, at least, also Algonquians & Muskogeans having similar beliefs.

[@Rwsegee]

@@MrChristianDT It is much older than than that.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

I don't care I would never kill my beloved dog

[@Strider_Bvlbaha]

The Chahta & Chickasha name for the Milky Way is Ofi Tohbi Ihina or "White Dog's Road." My elders taught me that came from the belief that the shilup (soul) followed/was guided by Ofi Tohbi to Shilup Iyakni (Land of the Spirits)--the bright white streak of the "Milky Way" thus being souls moving out of this world and into the next life. Very interesting to note is that in our migration story Ofi Tohbi is sent to guard Chahta and Chickasha's people as they made the journey to their promised homelands. When they reach Bok Chito ("The Great River", also called Misha Sipokni meaning "Without Mother/Beyond Age;" in English: 'Mississippi'), the people are dismayed as there is no way to cross. I've heard different versions of the exact circumstances of the river crossing, but most if not all agree Ofi Tohbi does not continue any further East--once they've crossed the River, they are in the land set aside for them by Creator, and no longer need his protection. I always thought it interesting that our migration story into our homelands is a sort of inverse parallel of the path a soul travels after death--with Ofi Tohbi providing escort both ways. Dogs definitely held a special role for us regarding liminal spaces as, up until the time of colonization, dogs were the only domesticated animal we kept, with the idea of living in sustained close proximity to other animals being taboo (ergo, the general lack of domesticated animals in Turtle Island).

[@robertayoder2063]

Dont people usually have more one dog in their lives?

[@ColonelNachos]

After finding your channel I feel like I've got a better grasp on indo european mythos and early bronze age society I also appreciate that you cite your sources. Thank you for your channel

[@DanDavisHistory]

It's great to read that, thank you for watching and for your comment. Let me know if there's anything else you would like to see.

[@ArchYeomans]

I like the fact others are becoming aware of proto-Indo-European mythologies and religions that I believe are well-researched as new data keeps pouring in from archaeogenetics, linguistics, etc. Our mythologies and systems of belief are more complex, more interconnected than previously imagined going back to Upper Paleolithic. This does not happen in isolation, as elements of languages can be borrowed from other cultures speaking non-IE languages (e.g., proto-Uralic languages). I am hoping we can find more and realize that proto-IE had its origins too, a sort of pre-Proto-IE language possibly going further back to the Upper Paleolithic of Mal'ta-Buret culture. Given that we have the oldest known Q* haplogroup findings are on the southeast side of Lake Baikal and the basal R* haplogroup on the southwest side, I'm not surprised that such myths of the dog as guardians of the underworld, as well of our hearth are shared.

[@ColonelNachos]

@@DanDavisHistory just keep making the content you enjoy your enthusiasm is seen through your thoroughness, personally I enjoy all of your content and formating especially the bit about St. George and the warband videos

[@benmcreynolds8581]

This was the most touching video. I felt deeply connected to my dog who was cuddling me as I watched this, while equally feeling deeply connected to our ancestors, the after life, the living. Everything. Peace.

[@runenritzer]

Myths are similar in America and Europe and because -I think- continents were mythologically multi-connected, remember the human being was at first nomad and they moved the myths or totems with them from one place to another…one point to consider is that the dogs are also hunters and hunting companions. They are markers of prey but also of mythical animals (hind, deer, raven, bull) for some symbolic reason and with magic…Another very interesting topic is that mythological dogs can carry with them the names of other animals (see R. Graves), or ghosts and creatures like pwkas take the shape of dogs …

[@gweiloxiu9862]

As I binge this channel, it is quickly becoming a favorite. As far as the idea that the myth cannot be older than the domestication of dogs, or that perhaps some earlier variants involved wolves and not dogs; myths evolve over time to reflect what is going on in the material world of the the people whos myths they are, and what is going on in the interior world of the same. But its not like the diffusion of mythology is linear. If there are 100 iterations of the same myth, some people will still have the oldest iterations, others will have the newest but the vast majority will have one of the 98 iterations between. The myth, in a given place, is likely to reflect the degree to which domestication has developed in that place. And domestication was a very long process which began with human interactions with wolves. Ethnobiology has a dog in this fight too (haha), "We argue that dog-human coevolution resulted in shared existence as hybrid pack-families". I will cite the paper at the bottom of this comment, it is a really big deal. Hybrid pack-families essentially means hybrid societies of humans and canines. The impact this would have on the part canines have played in the shaping of human society (as co-equals at a formative point), let alone myth, is highly substantial. I suggest that the myth of the dog guardian of the gate to the underworld is probably a mythological narrative describing the process of very early domestication in extremely symbolic terms. When humans were becoming the disproportionately more powerful partner in the relationship. That femininity is associated with otherworldliness throughout the Indo-European sphere and that women were the gatekeepers of dogs inclusion to personhood (during the hybrid pack-family stage of canine domestication) is really interesting. Even more interesting to me than this is the possibility that humans were showing signs of preadaption for domestication *by* canines, such as "... There was no difference between the influence of men and women on dogs' utility for humans, but affiliation with women had a stronger effect on humans' utility for dogs and personhood of dogs than did affiliation with men. This intriguing finding requires in-depth ethnographic analysis from new studies". I am not sure there could be more clear of a case made for the impact of canines on human ethnogenesis than the information you have correlated in this video. Anyways, here is the study by the Journal of Ethnobiology: bioone.org/journals/journal-of-ethnobiology/volume-40/issue-4/0278-0771-40.4.414/Dog-Human-Coevolution-Cross-Cultural-Analysis-of-Multiple-Hypotheses/10.2993/0278-0771-40.4.414.full

[@Nyctophora]

Thank you for the link!

[@franceslynch2615]

And remember, women historically do the cooking, you want that bone? Best talk to her :)

[@amberkat8147]

I actually said "nooo!" out loud when you said they killed and ate their own dogs. I remember once, I was much younger, I had a zombie apocalypse dream (I have them sometimes, they never exactly repeat.) and it started with me being me- a thing that has become increasingly rare as I've aged, I'm usually some character in my dreams now- and the dream started in my own house. After having to deal with at least some of my zombified family, I took off down the sewers with a bundle of supplies and my dog. As a child, it was always me and my dog against the world. I have cats now, who aren't as objectively useful as dogs, which are the Swiss army knife of the animal companion world, but man I love my kitteny babies. I can scarcely imagine having to eat any of them, cats or dogs. I'd have to be absolutely desperate to do so, I think. I certainly wouldn't do it just to join some war band. Then again I'm not male, so maybe no one would ever have asked me to.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

Breaking the taboo of ending and then consuming your companion. But in a way you also become one.

[@rexpowercolt5230]

I remember having this vivid dream of wrestling a large black dog in a cemetery when I was very little. I later found out about the ghostly black dog folklore from the UK, which was spooky. I think there's something to this myth on some deeper level. Maybe not supernatural, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[@joegibbskins]

That’s the dog you see when you die. In the old days your soul would return to God and unite with it when you died, this happened for Men and dogs (women and children don’t have mature enough souls to make the journey), then one day a dog stood in the way and said “no man shall pass unless I get a treat”. For eons men would meet the dog at death and happily give it a treat and unite with the Godhead. Then one day a man came along who had no use for dogs and when it approached him for a treat he greeted it with a strong whack on the mouth. This man was Roy Cohn. The dog bit out his throat and realized that the souls of man is superior to any treat and now it consumes the souls at the moment of death. This is why only dogs go to heaven. The dream you had means that you are the chosen one, the man who can set right what was lost and redeem your race. When you die, remember to feed the dog a scrap of meat with a thin 9 inch bone in it. The bone will go down the dog’s throat but will not dislodge and the hell beast will choke and die freeing us from this awful curse and you, and all men after, will once again be able to unite with God who will consume us in his majestic mouth.

[@rdt1104]

The Hound of the Baskervilles

[@franceslynch2615]

@@joegibbskins OK RexPower, you have your mission!!! Carry a piece of meat with a thin 9 inch bone with you at ALL times!

[@therationalcollection2999]

After Ive had a bad week, seeing this kind of content really grounds me and brings me back to reality. All the little problems I've had really are nothing compared to absolutely amazing lineage and story we are all a part of. People nowadays throw away history like it's a waste of time. But perhaps its the key to some of the problems western society is facing today. Especially lack of purpose in life alot of youths feel today.

[@-1-alex-1-]

Happy that I came across this channel, I love mythology. A jungian psychologist would probably say it's definitely one of the archetypes. Intresting fact: in the Tarkovski's famous movie Stalker there is a scene, where the main character is lying on the ground (as if dying) and then a black dog appears...

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you.

[@jordanhallmark1784]

The Black Dog also has analogs in British myth; the Sherlock Holmes tale, Hound of the Baskervilles, is a reflex of this ancient theme.

[@BatmanSeRiedeTi]

My ancestors believed that the dog was actualy a guide and helper that assist you to cross the river, they do so if they recognize you so rewarding the loyalty that you showed them in life.

[@raclark2730]

When my faithful hound passes away she is getting a proper pagan burial.

[@briangarrow448]

I knew a guy who did exactly that with his pet dog. An old wooden rowboat filled with dry wood and a beautiful summer evening in a saltwater estuary area on the Pacific Northwest coast. He told his wife that he wanted to be given the same treatment when he died. She said no. They divorced just months later.

[@randellhillspeaks753]

I didn't know pagans chould be proper people against goodness and normalcy pagan

[@raclark2730]

@@randellhillspeaks753 Depends on the particular brand of pagan.

[@SavageHenry777]

@@randellhillspeaks753 "pagan" is a term applied by urban christians in the late roman empire to the country people who still followed their ancestral ways and hadn't been killed or converted yet.

[@riograndedosulball248]

A little ironic, considering the symbol of st. Hubert of Liege in your pfp lol

[@stonefox2546]

The idea of several souls is also found in Finnish traditional beliefs, now sadly mostly scattered and forgotten thanks to thousand years of desert nomad monotheism having been imported by force. (Not counting the orthodox faith in that - it was the orthodox areas where even those little traces of the old religion were able to survive.) Itse-sielu is the "self" and gives the modern word for self (cognates in related languages refer to the soul specifically). Henki-sielu is the life force, and the word henki means life and henkäys means breath. There are also haamu-sielu (ghost) that is for general health and luonto-sielu (nature) that is for personal character and may be also partially external / from your ancestors / something that can be strenghtened for and with macig.

[@mon_moi]

do you have any online resources for reading about Finnish folklore and traditional beliefs?

[@gudduukraine270]

Foreigners come to foreign countries to get a passport without having any specific emotions for that place or people of that particular place. Whereas in past people live shoulder to shoulder for many Millenia to have love respect and feeling of a nationality, a brotherhood.

[@HCrugger]

Thanks for differentiating between other religions and Holy Orthodoxy.

[@franceslynch2615]

I wonder are they seven souls, which would parallel the seven charkas?

[@franceslynch2615]

"they" should be there :(

[@williamneal7210]

I'm Apache. I was raised with the belief my dead dogs were waiting for me at a river and would guide me across it into Heaven when I died, so I should not cry for them. As a kid I would imagine the dog swimming along side me crossing the river, but years later when I was active duty I dreamed I had died and my long dead Alsatian "Beowulf" met me at the edge of the river, but instead of swimming Beowulf lead me along the banks until we reached a point where we could walk across the river (probably 50 yds across) since the water was barely ankle deep. I woke up feeling like I had a better understanding of what my mother meant by "guiding me" across the river.

[@heikedrakakis8988]

I don't believe in anything but a religion that claims i will be reunited with my dogs when i die ....i would gladly join just on the off chance they are right

[@letthetunesflow]

Thank you for sharing your story, really needed to hear it… Thank you

[@williamneal7210]

@@letthetunesflow 🙂

[@AV57]

Tim Coleman’s ‘Vicious: Wolves and Men in America' does a pretty good job of detailing European dog mythology and its enduring legacy that made its way to colonial America. He points out that Homo sapiens and canines happen to have a lot of the same hunting strategies. For example, we are both great endurance runners, we can both pick out weak individuals and strategize ways to isolate them from their herd, and we are usually most hostile towards our own species which allows us to form interspecies alliances. Of the many things humans do, perhaps none is more impressive than our ability to understand other species of animals and form bonds that go beyond our own bloodline. This is more of a psychological phenomenon than a cultural phenomenon, so i think there’s really no need for this myth of a guard dog in the afterlife to have one origin. It would likely occur in isolation many times over, given enough time.

[@jayhenderson2620]

Dan, I'm really enjoying your videos thank you. Going through a hectic pact in life and taking a bit of down time to watch your interesting, intriguing and thought provoking videos is a daily ritual at the moment. Great stuff 👍

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you very much.

[@yeedbottomtext7563]

I think this myth probably dates to the ice age along with the flood story. This period is fascinating and I wish we knew more

[@kc3718]

in the UK dogs are often found in iron age pits, once thought to be rubbish pits, usually within hillforts.

[@demoncore5342]

Something like sacrificial pit instead? Are there any artefacts present that would deem it a rubbish pit tho? And most of all, where can I learn more.

[@mehmetkurtkaya3106]

İ do not think it is a coincidence. These comparisons are important and i have done some comparing of mythologies since several years. Dog and wolf is particularly interesting

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thanks for your comment. Dogs and wolves in mythology is incredibly interesting, I agree.

[@Helmholtzwatson1984]

Why is the belief so universal? Clearly its symbolic but I believe our ancestors knew something we have lost along the way.

[@vu4803]

One of Jung’s universal unconscious archetypes I suppose. The myth probably goes so far back into prehistory that we lose its trail but left an imprint on the myths of humanity to come.

[@jturtle5318]

That speaks to its age, because some of those cultures split off during the Paleolithic. It appears to be far older than Indo-European culture, because it's found in Siberian and New World cultures. Now I am wondering about Australian Aboriginals, who are believed to have become isolated millennia ago.

[@ryansargent661]

I love ancient history and myth, this channel is just what I needed. Subscribed. Now going to check out some other videos.

[@BlastersandBladesPodcast]

Dude, I am loving this channel!

[@benrokh]

One surprising place where you can find this mythological connection today is Hindu astrology, where the south node of the moon represents both dogs and liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth (aka the final death). You can also find a more humorous reincarnation of this myth in Pluto, the cartoon dog named after the god of death. And let's not forget Anubis... planning any books about a Chukchi visiting the the Egyptian rainforest of 6000 BC?

[@DanDavisHistory]

What a great idea. I would totally read that. I would love to see a huge prehistoric fiction genre, it's few and far between (probably because it's so difficult to write).

[@HistoryBro]

Bloody great vid, bro... Love it. Thank you.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Very kind of you, thanks for watching, Bro!

[@deplorablecovfefe9489]

If there arent dogs in heaven, I'm not going. I can't leave my best friend behind.

[@michaelpettersson4919]

I remember a popular song that used to make the lists here in Sweden about that very topic. The protagonist are a musician (bardic knowledge?) that are asked by a man if he can bring his dog with him to heaven. The song is called "Änglahund" in swedish literary "angel dog".

[@elenavaccaro339]

There are several distinct domestication events found in the DNA, and thought they domesticated themselves by hanging around the clan. There might have been others that were lost due to that particular line dying off or unelected during breeding. It is unfortunate that many strains of New World dogs have been lost. I think there are two still surviving, one is the Chihuahua.

[@MrChristianDT]

Yeah. Basically, too many of the Native peoples began starving & overrelied on their dogs for food on one hand, while on the other were constantly trading for new dogs with other tribes & whites until all the lines of these dogs died out. Some dogs in some places, whether recognized as an official breed or not retain looks & traits of Native dog breeds, but their genetics show them to be almost completely of European dogs' descent. Frankly, though, what occured to me was that dogs breed way faster than people do & most DNA testing has a limit to how far back it's capable of going. Dogs reach sexual maturity in 2 years, whereas a person takes about 12-15, but usually waits until 20-30 before having kids. So, if the furthest we can trace ethnicity in standard DNA tests is about 500 years (20-25 generations), 20 generations of dogs only goes back about 40 years.

[@StoutProper]

The chihuahua? That toy yapping thing? Surely you’re joking

[@elenavaccaro339]

@@StoutProper No. Unfortunately there isn't much of the original DNA remaining in today's dogs. The original was pot bellied... There is another, again crossed with so many European dogs that they aren't genetically close.

[@StoutProper]

@@elenavaccaro339 Right ok i was gonna say, the name does sound native American though. What were they used for?

[@elenavaccaro339]

@@StoutProper If I am remembering correctly, before the Spanish, hunting small animals like that areas version of woodchucks or prairie dogs, rabbits or hares, packrats. After they helped keep European rats and mice down.

[@retropian]

It’s entirely possible that traces of belief from the deep past have been preserved in oral and folk traditions. The Dog is the first animal we domesticated, (or did they domesticate us?) and had a deep significance to past cultures. They’re still deeply significant. But speaking of ancient beliefs leaving traces today, another topic I’d like to suggest is that of The Green Man. Representations of the Green Man are found throughout the Indo-European world. I sometimes wonder if it’s another ancient memory or tale of Neanderthal’s. They occupied roughly the same area and overlapped with modern man for a long time, even interbreeding on occasion as we now know. As far as we know Neanderthals were ambush hunters judging from what evidence of the style and function of their hunting implements and also the number of injuries found on their remains, which are consistent with tangling with large animals up close. I wonder if they disguised themselves with greenery to get close enough to hunt a grazing herbivore and that is remembered as the Green Man.

[@Nyctophora]

That is another really interesting idea, thank you!

[@franceslynch2615]

@@Nyctophora Yes, agree!

[@jacquelynberry2789]

Great video man I greatly enjoyed it! I think due to a great flood or the ice age we have lost and forgotten a ton of our history. And now with advances in the field of archeology we should be able to paint a much clearer picture, but the ruling class wants the information suppressed.

[@WillsB1985]

This is fast becoming my favorite channel😬

[@vanrensburgsgesicht]

Here in Berlin(Köpenick) there is a tale about a big black dog called Morro (PIE. mor-o-s* = dead?). He has his home near a local bridge (the Pyramidenbrücke) and walks around at night with fiery eyes and sits in front of houses of bad and suspicious people.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Amazing!

[@ericesper348]

Absolutely mirrors the Irish fairy spirit in the form of a giant black dog called the Cú Sidhé. A common tale found in the West Of Ireland especially. It is encountered on bridges, Usually to your death.

[@ericesper348]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqG7n3ypapxpbZo

[@ArchYeomans]

The Isle of Man has a dog that haunts and protects ancient Peel Castle (an old Viking fortress likely established on a more ancient Celtic settlement).

[@robertbrumfitt6548]

We have a similar entity in the north of England called the Barghest who is a large black dog with fiery eyes. To see the Barghest is an omen of death to the one who sees it. Interestingly in the theme of this video the only way to escape the Barghest is to cross over a river or stream 🤔

[@atheodorasurname6936]

I'd been thinking and wondering about Sirius/Canis Major and Minor etc for a long time. This video is so enlightening, thank u!

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thanks for watching!

[@ZerozenOnes]

Man, that is some excellent content for prehistory fans you're putting out. Thank you very much for making these, all absolutely fascinating. Gonna go get that book of yours on audible for sure. You know if/when the 2nd book will be on there? Looks like only the 1st one is there now?

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you. They're producing it now so I hope it will be out soon. It's always a few months behind the digital and paperback releases.

[@theknave4415]

From my own research, I think you are on the right track and asking all of the right questions.

[@timothyhenegar7484]

In a way with the ritual, it could be thought that the dog was more than a companion. They were the guardians, and companions or guides where it was the dog conversed with the guardians of the dead to explain their deeds as witness. Or served as support in confronting the guardians of the portals to the dead.

[@JesseP.Watson]

Thank you Dan for another wonderful journey into the mysteries of the ages.

[@leebronock887]

Nice concept. Dogs are "special" cases of inter species cooperation. A curve ball. Could the pre sea level rise populations of Doggerland and Sundaland in the Indo Pacific be the common meeting point for the two main versions of the myth? I base this on Oppenheimer's "Eden in the East" theory. Instead of one group, say, the Amerivan paleo peoples, descending from the other, Siberian, people, could both be descendents of a centrally located proto-culture originally centred in a now submerged location? One thing I have learned over my lifetime is that no one has a lock on "accuracy" in human origins. Will look up your books. (It is reassuring to see how much research goes into your writings. Kudos.)

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

Reminds me of modern english has "beer" and "ale", two words for the same beverage, but with completely different lineages that somehow met on this island on the end of the world.

[@RICGORDON-j1l]

Thanks

[@MaxSafeheaD]

"Well into the last glacial period when it was, pretty cold." 🤣 Sorry, but the understatement here did make me grin! 😁 😉

[@CassandraPantaristi]

Another connection I found is the mytheme of the Indo-European Divine Twins Mánus and Yemós, and the Mayan Hero Twins Hunahpú and Xbalanqué. Mánus sacrificed Yemós to bring order and life to the current world we live in. The soul of Yemós went to the underworld, and thus he became the first mortal. In the myth of Hunahpú and Xbalanqué, their father and uncle Hun-Hunahpú and Vucub-Hanahpú are summoned to the underworld to play a ballgame. They face many trials of trickery, they fail and are killed. Hunahpú and Xbalanqué go to the underworld to avenge their father and uncle, to which they won. Both myths involve Twins in the underworld in some way. Mánus is the ancestor of humanity in Proto-Indo-European religion, and the Mayan Hero Twins are considered the ancestors to the Mayan ruling classes. With Indo-European tribes, each ethnic group within different linguistic groups had heroes as their founder of the tribe (Hercules of the Dorians and Spartans, Theseus of the Athenians, Saxnōt of the Saxons, and Gaut of the Geats). I also think that the Proto-Indo-Europeans had hero founders of tribes in the mythology of the Proto-Indo-Europeans. I believe that the Ancient North Eurasian ancestors of the Native Americans, the Indo-Europeans, and the Siberians, also had Divine Twins that involve the underworld in some way.

[@lesROKnoobz]

your videos give me a good chill podcast vibe. love it

[@cernunos8153]

These are fantastic videos. Can’t wait to see the channel grow

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you.

[@DipityS]

The timeline is evocative of the possibilities and I'm fascinated by the idea of myth travelling down from so deep in the past linking us to our ancient ancestors.

[@garrgravarr]

Spellbinding. Throughout my whole life, I've wondered about the experiences and realities and scope of these truly ancient cultures. I'd like to think that this particular myth made the transcontinental journey. It really fires the imagination to try to imagine the exploration over time of these hard-bitten people, and perhaps in the out-runner dog warbands the stories were particularly reinforced and remembered...

[@vikingskuld]

Very well done video. Awesome job thank you

[@peterblood50]

Dog is God spelled backwards and they are, as we say, "man's best friend". IF a dog guards the afterlife, the food it is looking for is the only thing you could have brought with you. It is looking for the love your soul possesses. The guardian dog IS God and you will pass according to the love you give it. I believe the phrase is "God is Love" pertains here. "All you need is love" is also applicable as well. You can say that's crazy but, unless you have a better idea when you're standing in front of Cerebos or Kerbero's, I'll go with feeding it love.

[@zeideerskine3462]

The same Mal'ta Buret culture also had Venus figurines. Although American archaeologists do not call them that, there are also Venus figurines in the Americas, in particular at poverty point.

[@eternalrecurrence6042]

Great content, thanks for making it.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.

[@yesid17]

this video was amazing idk how i stumbled on your channel (god bless the algorithm i guess lol) the presentation and visuals and storytelling-all fantastic! tiny bit of nitpicking but im pretty sure it is definitely not settled and still highly debated (among western anthropologists anyway) that the Ancient North Eurasians were first to people the Americas-especially in light of evidence like the white sands footprints which are contemporaneous if not predate the date you cited (~20ka) in any case, super glad i found your stuff, just subbed now gonna check out your other videos!

[@jacquelynberry2789]

Great info at the end about the native immigrations and genetic heritage. Reminds me of something I saw in a Robert sephr video showing a snake s wastika carved out of stone found in the mud banks of the Mississippi. Another cultural link to ancient Hunter gathers or arya ns or whatever you want to call them.

[@Strider_Bvlbaha]

that particular symbol is usually referred to as a 'tie-snake' when it's from Mississippian peoples (it's two snakes tied together, some examples show that more clearly than others) and is just one of many iterations of that symbol found across Indigenous folx of Turtle Island--there are many cultures in what is now the SW US that feature them prominently in their pottery and weaving.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

@@Strider_Bvlbaha shows how ancient that kind of symbol really is. And with exception of that one idiotic group, it is typically seen as a symbol of fortune and prosperity.

[@andreweden9405]

That sketch at 5:35 is by the Revolutionary War period British commander of the oldest town here in Indiana, Vincennes! His name was Henry Hamilton, and I believe the name of the Native American he sketched there was Pecan. That's a very random work of art, and it's kind of crazy that you've used it here!

[@olipardo1979]

Some things never change: The training of Guatemalan Counterinsurgency forces known as Kaibiles involve raising a puppy and eventually killing it.

[@kirstencorby8465]

What a great video, thank you for this. That story is still as valid today as it was 20,000 years ago, if you see it in mythological, Jungian terms. The spirit dog guardian being your Shadow, and so on. Fascinating. I'll check out your books and the video on the tripartite soul.

[@jamiegoodridge8712]

Spot on mate, spot on...

[@DeeplyStill]

Fascinating. Great thought provoking work

[@andrewbrown6522]

Imagine being the first youngster that throws a stick and watches the pup bring it back and then drop it with that 'lets play' look and wag?

[@perplexedpapa]

Sometimes it's hard to believe that you're not doing this as a professional. Great information! Great graphics! Great stories! Great presentation! I just ran across you on KZbin a couple of days ago, and I'm hooked. I have to catch up on a lot of your videos, but if they're like the ones I've watched so far, it will be my pleasure to do so. Oh, and I'm not being bias because of your name, as great as that is too. 😆 Thank you for all of the hard work that you put in to these videos!

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you very much indeed, my alt account... Glad you found the channel. Cheers.

[@Bajun94]

Or something you completely missed: It could just be that there is indeed a dog or a canine-looking thing guarding the after-life, and these legends are simply the representation of that fact.

[@DanDavisHistory]

That point was in the script actually but I cut the whole thing down cos it was too long. I hope it is true.

[@Bajun94]

@@DanDavisHistory Fair enough!

[@joemiller5922]

@@DanDavisHistory and you don’t believe in Jesus Christ our true king? Are you deluded by the devil and his servants?

[@anonymousanonymous4690]

@@joemiller5922 are you a follower of a middle eastern cult?

[@animula6908]

Good point. People always ignore that probability, but I think it’s way less likely ancient man was a bigger liar or more ignorant than modern man. They were likely just telling the truth.

[@parthiaball]

Absolutely beautiful video!

[@susanwozniak6354]

Are you familiar with Cu Chuculainn, the Irish hero, and the work assigned to him and the geis (taboo) that was laid on him to never eat dog meat.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Yes great point! Someone else commented here about that. I have an interest in Celtic mythology though I need to lean very much more. I watch a great channel on KZbin called Fortress of Lugh who talks about this stuff.

[@danrich92]

Love your content Dan. Just realized I've never subbed, too engrossed by your videos. Keep up the great work

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you for your comment and for subscribing, I appreciate it.

[@grindsaur]

As for oldest myth, there is a possibility in the python “statue” in Tsodilo cave and the python/elephant reverence among the San. Sacrificed stone tools there have been dated to 70.000 years, although I’m not certain of the current status of that interpretation (i.e. potential continuity).

[@liamblake937]

Great vid, I was thinking your final hypothesis that these stories could have emerged independently but based in the jobs of dogs in the real world the whole time, I'm glad you put it forward as a potential explanation

[@burnieblunt8798]

I think oral histories and mythology are VERY long lasting. So yes it could be so.

[@schlaackmusic]

Utterly fascinating. Thank you friend.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thanks for watching, mate.

[@iamscoutstfu]

IIRc Nergal of Sumerian Mythology also roles will three dogs or a dog with three heads. I'm starting to notice similarities between that culture and the proto-indo European speaking cultures.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thanks yeah a lot of people are saying that. You know I really think the Caucasus is of the most enormous importance. People have long assumed the region was a barrier but that's not the case and many traditions found in the north and south of the region likely originated there. Not just traditions but people too and over an enormous time period.

[@kokorolex]

What an interesting video. It makes so much sense why Japan and Greece have very similar beliefs of the river of the dead.

[@Innes771]

Had just been reading about the EHG and ANE people this morning, wished there were some proper well put together video detailing the connections from these people and American and European cultures and blimey it just shows up, thank you I never knew about the burials of dogs you speak of that seem to be similar to human ones, I find it heartwarming that even so far back dogs were loved and seen as part of the family as they are today. Also made me think how important dogs must've been to the ANE peoples too, primarily I assume as guardians of the home during times of megafauna, great wolves and big cats roaming the steppes, but also for hunting smaller and faster game. Considering the ANE people are most likely our patrilineal ancestors, and we know Indo-European cultures spread from father to son, I bet a fair much of our myth and traditions goes back to a tribe of those super early people, be cool to see if anything comes out in the future of research showing any more connections.

[@DanDavisHistory]

That's some pleasing synchronicity for sure. This is a fascinating topic and there's a lot more to learn. I believe a lot of the work was done by the Soviets and is still untranslated but the new genetic evidence is really unlocking a lot too. The ancient dog burials is fascinating. There are two papers linked in the description that I got all that from if you want to read more.

[@johnobrien7626]

Great video, very informative.

[@76rjackson]

Cultures tend to project aspects of their daily life onto the afterlife. So it's likely that the afterlife, for a Hunter gatherer, would be conceived of as like a camp. For a society that had domesticated dogs, moving into a new camp, that of the land of the dead, would require getting past the very loyal and protective watchdogs of that encampment. It's hard to say if the idea had a single origin or has several separate origins. The important things of everyday life tend to also become the things of the afterlife.

[@olinayoung6287]

So interesting and extremely well done, as always thank you!!

[@freedem41]

Note that for North Siberian people were extremely dependant on their dogs. The Samooyed people had their dogs pull sleds, provide the fiber for their clothes, and keep them from freezing at night aside fron the usual assistance in hunting and guarding. It is easy to think it hard for them to imagine life or afterlife without their dogs as quite horrifying. Even now the Samoyad breed of dog is the most social of all breeds and not able to work without human presence for jobs like junkyard dog or herder that other breeds do much better.

[@anaussie213]

Romans weren't dependent on their dogs but they truly loved them. They took the Greek after life of the Elysian Fields (final resting place of heroes) and granted it to their dogs (who got to go to the best version of Roman heaven with the heroes). In Roman mythology all dogs do go to heaven (unlike Catholicism), and receive the same reward as the heroes themselves.

[@michaelbacon5278]

I love it when I discover a good new history channel, especially when it’s well researched and intelligently written! Great stuff.

[@bateman2112]

I've not spent a lot of time with extremely ancient mythology. I'd love a series on it. You do a fantastic job of presenting the information without editorializing or criticizing. I've had dog meat. If anyone's curious I found it greasy amd stringy much like every other predator meat I've had the distinct displeasure to eat.

[@theinquisitorisamage1653]

Out of curiousity, what other types of predator meat have you eaten?

[@robertayoder2063]

Eat your family lab?

[@GothiGrimwulff]

Good video. I love Comparative Mythology. I feel like there's a lot people dismiss when they don't examine various pantheons for similarity.

[@MrMuttly55]

The saddest but most thankful thing I have ever done was to dig a grave for my dog and give him a dignified burial.

[@tscottshea]

I think the only thing sadder than losing a dog is living without one--I love what you say here. Thank you.

[@mikefabbi5127]

I've never had that experience I can only try to understand. I remember watching about Flipper and the boy/guy now said Flipper jumped out of his enclosure into his arms, looked at him and died.

[@summersolstice884]

@1:22 ... "If you are not worthy...." I wonder... what were the standards used by ancient people as to what was "Worthy"?

[@brindlebriar]

Both the 'great flood' and the 'tree of magical forbidden fruit' motifs appear in the Mayan creation saga, the Popol Vu.

[@StoutProper]

And the Sumerian stone tablets in their stories of the annunaki

[@Kingdomkey123678]

Because at the end of the last ice age, sea levels rose 160 meters globally. Since people prefer to live on the coast, that’s a lot of settlements suddenly under water. People are gonna remember that.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

@@Kingdomkey123678 and that in about 1000 years. On flat land that is enough that your grandfather could tell you the village he was born in lies now deep beneath the waves. You don't notice the vertical movement, but you'll see the horizontal movement, as the coast encroaches further and further onto fertile land. When you were a child, your village was surrounded by fertile grasslands, when your children were born, you were at the coast, and now you see the last house of the village take on water while you move to spend your last years at a place you've never been to.

[@markfetherman6593]

Brilliant analysis, Dan. One point however. I served with Native Alaskans in the US Army. They hate being called Eskimos. They will tell you: "Eskimo is a pie. I am Inuit".

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you very much. Eskimo and Inuit are not synonyms.

[@yadakakadu]

Finding out that the name of the dog that guards the afterlife is Spot kinda ruins the mystique. Just makes you want to pet it and tell it is a good boy/girl. Maybe tummy rubs. This coming from someone who doesn't like dogs.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

But it is a good boy. Guarding the afterlife for ages, day and night, without fail. Must be the best one of them all.

[@Antaragni2012]

Great work! After some videos I had to subscribe.

[@tomsitzman3952]

Some of the Native American tribes on the Great Plains of North America had societies based on age. The young men, age 14 to 21 belonged to the society called the Mad Dog society. Thiis is the age group that is navigating their way into the adult warrior societies, learning from their mistakes along the way.

[@jimpedersen9809]

Werry good Learning for me Thx alot for this Fantastisk telling and also finale a voice that a nice and calm to lisent to

[@yarrowwitch]

Well, if there are no dogs in the afterlife, I'm not going.

[@Iskandar64]

I found that really haunting. At first I thought you were putting your spin on the well known European death and afterlife myths, and ancestor worship, and extremely resonant of Tolkien's undying lands in the far west. When you then said this mythical outline narrative part of the beliefs of indigenous people of the America's it sent is shiver up my spine. I find it utterly convincing that these myths have a common ancestor. The elements of the myths are so specific and clear that I find it hard to believe they do not have a common origin. I am not a religeous person but these myths feel instinctively 'right' for some reason.