History and Origin of the Molosser Breeds
((Mastiff Breeds, Molossians, Molossi)
This group of dog breeds is without doubt the one that has been the object of the greatest number of different interpretations. All theories agree on the origin of the word, but diverge when it comes to define the dogs' origin or the breeds that belong to the molosser group.
The Molossians were said to have come from Epirus in the northwest corner of Greece, their name referring to the Molossi tribes with which they were associated, but their true origin is not known. The Molossi people kept guardian dogs and war dogs which were famous
Molossers Breeds
Rottweiler
However the true origin of the Molosser breeds is not known. They are one of the few breeds that appear in reality as well as in legends. According to the legend they descend from a dog named Laeleps. Hephaestus forged Laeleps from Demonesian bronze, put a soul into it, and gave it to Zeus. After numerous owners, it was turned to stone, but presumably not before it had sired a race of mighty dogs.

What we know for sure is that dogs accompanied people on their migrations, and were carried by traders and warriors over the great trade routes, which existed from prehistoric times, and during the great battles.
However, there is still no consensus on the routes of human migration in ancient times and as a result there can be none on dogs.

It is commonly said that civilization truly began in Mesopotamia, with the Sumerians around 3000 B.C. The Sumerians were a race of great traders. They visited the cities on the Indus River in Asia and went inland as well along the Nile over land and by ship. They were also an agricultural nation raising sheep, goats and pigs, for which they most probably needed guardian dogs and probably herding dogs.
From Mesopotamia, dogs would have been taken west to Egypt, Turkey, Lybia, Greece, Rome, Syracuse, Carthage and Spain.
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Marble statue of the Molossian type. Roman copy of a Hellenistic original. The British Museum.
Photo: T. Clark
The Great Lion Hunt, 7th century B.C.
Limestone relief from the North Palace of Assurbanipal, Nineveh
for their courage and ferocity and became known as the "Canis Molossi", the dogs of the Molossi. The popular view is that the Molossi were the early, ferocious forerunners of the mastiffs and were the direct descendants of the Tibetan mastiff, before they were brought to Greece.
Detail of the above Limestone relief.
Notice the aggressive, growling expressions of these dogs.
Molosser breeds
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To conclude we may say that Molossians were of two sizes, the larger of which was used as a flock and home guardian. One had a far wider jaw or muzzle than the other.  It was shorter, often undershot.  The second had the longer, narrower muzzle that is associated with the Molossians shown in Greek sculpture. 
For the flock guardian, white was the preferred color. White dogs blended with the color of the animals at night. Black dogs did not and could scare the animals they had to guard. They were used as home guardians.
However, there are also contradictory reports. The description of the Molossian made by Nemesianus in the 3rd century A.D. sounds more like the big Greek Saluki then any kind of mastiff. Other cynologists as well state categorically that 'the Molussus was not in reality a Mastiff... the true Molossian was an erect-eared, slate coulored or fawn, swift-footed wolfish-looking dog.'
The best explanation of these contradictory descriptions is probably that the Molossi had more than one type of dog.
Columella, in the first century A.D. makes a further differentiation by stressing that the guard dog, used to guard both the farmer's property and flocks, should be strongly built "amplissimus corporis" and black because this color is more intimidating in the daylight and at night blends in with the dark. It should be "squarely built... and it should have a head so large as to form the largest part of it".
According to the same author, the shepherd dog however should be white to make it distinguishable to the shepherd from a raiding wolf. It should be less heavily built than the guard dog because it needs to be fast enough to run the wolves off or recapture animals already taken. From these description one can assume that guard-dogs were of the Molossian type, more specifically a group of dogs which were probably the ancestors of the dog breeds we now refer to as Molossers of the dogge-type.
The Greeks were the first to write manuals about dogs; a practice which was continued by the Romans.
Aristotle was the first to discuss the anatomy and physiology of the dog. In 350 B.C., he listed the 'most useful' known breeds, among them the Molossian.
However, the identification of the breeds in Greek art is made more difficult by the tendency of many artists to stylise or idealise their subjects, but several breed types can be recognised.
The two main types most commonly mentioned are the Laconian and the Molossian dog, the Laconian being the sleek smooth-haired hound used for hunting deer and hares and the Molossian being the stockier more rough-haired hound used for boar hunting.
Varro, writing around 37 B.C. gives a 'breed standard' for this type of dog: "They should be comely in face, of good size, with eyes either darkish or yellowish, symmetrical nostrils, lips blackish or reddish, the upper lip neither raised too high nor drooping low, stubby jaw with two fangs projecting somewhat from it on the right and left, the upper straight rather than curved, their sharp teeth covered by lip, large head, large and drooping ears, thick shoulders and neck, the thighs and shanks long, legs straight and bowed rather in than out, large wide paws which spread as he walks (...) the backbone neither projecting nor swayed, tail thick; with a deep bark, wide gape, preferably white in colour, so that they may the more readily be distinguished in the dark; and of leonine appearance."
Flock guardians did not herd flock but simply guarded them. They were huge, savage dogs, large enough to keep away wolves and leopards.  They had to guard against strangers, as well as against wandering stray dogs, wolves and big game, and men bent upon stealing parts of the flocks. They could fiercely fight intruders, be they human or animal. It is not clear whether the Greeks had driving and herding dogs in addition to their guard dogs. These dog did not necessarily develop in Tibet, but rather in Central Asia.
The broader muzzled dogs were probably taken to Mesopotamia; the others to Greece. The former supposedly became the ancestor of all the Mastiff-type dogs plus the longer, boxlike muzzled sporting dogs. The path of travel was over the ancient 'silk route'. But at some point, several of the Mastiff-type dogs were diverted along a more northerly course to the Celtic lands. And from there they were taken to Britain. Read more about the Molosser breeds.
Origin of the mastiffs
Molosser breeds
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Guard dogs
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| More Molossers | More Dog breeds |
Dog Breeds Home > Molosser breeds > History
Click here, for breed descriptions of the molossor breeds.
Molosser breeds
(books):

American Bulldog
Boxer
Bullmastiff
Cane Corso
Dogo Argentino
Dogue de Bordeaux
Fila Brasileiro
Great Dane
Mastiff
Neapolitan Mastiff
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Source: Dogs in Antiquity