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| Bene |
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| A relaxing evening at home |
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| See what I have to share the couch with! |
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"Bene" (pictured above) is a Cirneco dell'Etna, an ancient breed of dog from Sicily. He came from Sambuca Kennel in Tennessee, and his registered name is Sambuca Cirino. He is a very happy boy and loves playing chase with the Pharaoh Hounds. He's about one-third the size of the Pharaohs, but he runs just as fast. He is now practicing for lure coursing. Stay tuned for more pictures and updates! A little bit of the Cirneco history can be found below.
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| A view of Mt. Etna, Sicily |
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The Cirneco is Sicily's native hound, and is closely related to the Kelb Tal-Fenek ("rabbit hunting dog") of Malta, and like that breed may be descended from the Tesem ("Pharaoh Hound" or "Wolfhound") of ancient Egypt. Part of the greyhound family, the Sicilian Hound has been bred in Sicily since ancient times. The dog is depicted in a mosaic at the ancient Roman villa outside Piazza Armerina, and also in Greek Sicilian coins. His Egyptian origins, though debated, would be quite logical considering the seafaring Phoenicians' colonization of Sicily and other parts of the Mediterranean. The Cirneco is strongly identified with the region of Mount Etna, where it was traditionally used to hunt rabbit and hare on rocky volcanic slopes. It is believed that the Cirneco once roamed wild in Sicily, and is little changed over many centuries. Its large ears are its most distinctive feature. (Description taken from the article, The Sicilian Hound, written by Vincenzo Mormino in Best of Siciliy Magazine.)
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