Another popular animal was the snake, especially in Epidaurus. Some harmless
snakes had more of a practical use, as a vermin and mice exterminator. Ajax
apparently had a pet snake that acted not unlike a dog. The second emperor
of Rome, Tiberius, also kept a snake. Martial mentions snakes gracefully
slithering amongst cups and people’s chests
during banquets. Yet snakes never reached the
popularity that dogs received, and many
ominous sayings about the danger of snakes
remained.
Birds kept as pets were depicted frequently as a welcome addition to women’s
dressing rooms. In these paintings, the birds were never in cages; instead,
they were given free-range. Birds remained more endearing to women
compared to men, since women were the ones isolated in the home.
Odysseus’s wife, Penelope, kept 20 geese for company. The ancients were
especially partial to quails, herons and cranes, roosters, swans, ducks, and
geese. These last two birds are featured prominently under banquet tables,
funerals, and games and play. The quail was regarded as a sacred bird of
Diana, and her birthplace, Ortygia, derives its name from the word for quail.
Quails were prized for their pleasing voice and colorful plumage. One quail
belonging to the philosopher Porphyry brought a quail from Carthage back
with him; it could play with him, answer him, and kept quiet whenever its
master wanted silence!
(Ro)man's
best
friend!