Heraldry

[alexbrannan]

What is the meaning of the dog lying at a knight's feet on a tombstone?

[woofgang]

I believe that the knight was faithful unto death

[Octavius]

I don't know the breed of dog you saw, perhaps a spaniel, which could mean 'a noble and loyal master worthy of love'.  Or...

Known in England before the 9th century, the Greyhound was bred and raised by the aristocracy. For 700 years it was illegal under English law for a commoner to own a Greyhound. It was used to hunt small game, especially hares. In ancient Egypt the Greyhound were not only companions, but they were revered and almost worshipped; they were cherished so much that a birth of one was second in importance only to the birth of a human boy. When a pet Greyhound died the entire family mourned by shaving their heads, fasting and crying. When Greyhounds died, they were buried, mummified, and placed in the tomb of their owner. Often the tombs were decorated with figures of favourite Greyhounds. Greek mythological figures were often portrayed with Greyhounds and Hecate, goddess of wealth, is often shown with a Greyhound. The same is true for Pollux, protector of the hunt. The ancient Romans also had an appreciation of the Greyhound; their Gods and Goddesses, were shown with Greyhounds. The Middle Ages were a time of famine, and the Greyhound almost became extinct. The clergymen saved them from starvation and bred them for noblemen. The Greyhound is said to denote majesty, courage, vigilance, swiftness and loyalty, and they were emblematic of nobility.

[Octavius]

Spaniels were outstanding hunters that were both submissive and servile to their masters but fierce adversaries if challenged; a symbol of the spaniel signifyies loyalty, integrity and trustworthiness

[jock]

That he had a dog?