AtDDtA1: Pugnax

[David Morris]

The Molossians (Molossoi) were an ancient Greek [1] tribe that
emigrated from Thessaly [1] into Epirus during Mycenaean times. As in
the case of the Ancient Macedonians, Chaonians, and Thesprotians,
during the Classical period they were widely regarded by many southern
Greeks as barbarians or semi-barbarians. Due to this and other
reasons, a number of scholars [citation needed] remain skeptical about
the origin of the Molossians; whether they were a Hellenic or a
Hellenised people. On their northeast frontier they had the Chaonians
and to their southern frontier the kingdom of the Thesprotians, to
their north were the Illyrians. The Molossians were part of the League
of Epirus until they were annexed into the Roman Empire and 150,000 of
its inhabitants were enslaved.

On 1/23/07, Ya Sam <takoitov at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Canis Pugnax
>
> When the Roman Empire conquered Italy, they soon discovered the Molossoid dogs' power as war and fighting dogs.