Forget Fido! Ancient Egyptians called their dogs names like 'He-of-the-Underworld', new discovery reveals

While today's most popular dog names include Milo, Teddy and Luna, ancient Egyptians appear to have preferred something a little more dramatic.Scientists have uncovered evidence of a dog called 'He–of–the–Underworld' that lived more than 3,500 years ago.The canine companion lived alongside User, an ancient Egyptian official who served as a scribe and steward under Pharaoh Thutmose I.Inside his burial chamber, several painted scenes depict dogs wearing collars and sitting beneath their owner's chair.Two of the dogs had already been identified as 'Trusty' and 'Strong One'.But researchers have now revealed that a third pooch bore a far more haunting name – one linked to death and the underworld itself.The findings, published in The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, read: 'The dog's name is written horizontally from left to right behind his head and…best translates as "He–of–the–Underworld".'The name very likely serves as an allusion to the god [of the underworld] Anubis.' Scientists have uncovered evidence of a dog called 'He–of–the–Underworld' that lived more than 3,500 years agoThe discovery was made in tomb TT 21 at Sheikh Abd el–Qurna, part of the Theban Necropolis on the west bank of the Nile near modern–day Luxor.The overall scene depicts User seated before a pile of offerings, wearing a white shawl and holding a floral bouquet to his nose.A collared dog sits upright beneath his lion–footed chair. Faded markings can be seen next to the dog's head, but they are too worn to be deciphered.Experts used digital image–enhancement technology to make the barely visible inscription legible, uncovering the dog's name centuries after it was first carved into the tomb wall.According to Chelsea Kaufman, from Johns Hopkins University, the moniker was a type of nickname for Anubis, the jackal–headed god who guided and protected the dead in ancient Egyptian religious beliefs.While a variation of the name has previously been recorded for a person, this marks the first time it has been identified as the name of a dog. Experts used digital image–enhancement technology to make the barely visible inscription legible, uncovering the dog's name centuries after it was first carved into the tomb wallIn the drawing, the dog features a slender body, long legs, drooping ears and a curved tail and a reddish–coloured rippling coat.The experts said they believe it was a Sloughi, an ancient North African hunting dog often compared to a greyhound for its slender build and impressive speed.The elegant breed has been depicted in artwork dating back thousands of years and was highly prized for its loyalty, stamina and hunting skills.The finding is especially rare because very few named animals have been identified in the ancient Egyptian archaeological record.To date, only around 100 dog names have been recorded.Dogs occupied an important place in Egyptian society and were used for hunting, guarding and companionship.Some were so highly valued that they were buried alongside their owners and commemorated in tomb inscriptions. The overall scene depicts User seated before a pile of offerings, wearing a white shawl and holding a floral bouquet to his nose. A collared dog sits upright beneath his lion–footed chair'One of the primary functions of a tomb was to ensure the survival of the deceased in the Afterlife,' the researchers explained.'There were many ways of achieving this, including two– and three–dimensional representations of the deceased within the tomb environment.'In addition to their own image, the decision of many tomb owners to include a representation of a dog and occasionally also the dog's name suggests the tomb owner's concern with, and investment in, the dog's survival in the Afterlife.'Another unusual aspect of the inscription is the hieroglyph accompanying the dog's name.Ancient Egyptian dog names were typically marked with a symbol showing a standing dog, but this one depicts a seated animal resembling the hound painted in the tomb.Only one other known Egyptian dog name features a seated–dog symbol, making the discovery particularly unusual.