about Was George Really Americas First President? Very much like the lyrics of the famous She may be ancient Egypts most famous face, but the quest to find the eternal resting place of Queen Nefertiti has never been hotter. ( Wikimedia Commons ). 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. It seems that the Earth, as it orbits the sun, is not precisely upright but tilts slightly (23.5 degrees from absolute vertical). Researchers have found the oldest known dog remains in the Americas and they believe the ancient dog bone fragment reveals how the canine and its brethren likely reached that part of the world. If a dog gives a wide berth to a room that has not yet been touched by death, this suggests that the Grim Reaper has set his sights on one of the occupants. When snakes are about to shed their skin in summer, their eyes cloud over as the old eye covering layer is replaced with a new one. Photograph by Ann Ronan Pictures, Print Collector/Getty. A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire, Sacred Marvels: 17 Cathedrals That Will Take Your Breath Away, In Pictures, In Search of the Fabled 1,000-ft White Pyramid of Xian in China, Egyptologists Reveal a Lost Chamber in the Great Pyramid With Cosmic Rays, Library in Stone: The Ica Stones of Professor Cabrera Part I, Two Sides to Every Story: The North American Martyrs Shrines and Indigenous/ Roman Catholic Relations, The Origins of the Faeries: Encoded in our Cultures Part I, Curse of the Buried Pearl: The Hunt for Ancient Treasures Part I, The Enigma of the Shugborough Inscription, http://www.theoi.com/Ther/AlopexTeumesios.html, http://www.academia.edu/5681942/Aristaeus_the_Pelasgian_Philistine_Samson, www.godrules.net/library/clarke/clarkejud15.htm, www.biblestudytools.com/gw/judges/passage/?q=judges+15:4-14, On the Political Economy of Plant Disease Epidemics, Anubis and Xolotl: The Remarkable Resemblance of the Death Dog Gods, Saudi Arabian Dog Remains Are A Shocking Find. They were presumably running back and forth to escape the flame, (following, but not really chasing, each other.). This episode was produced by Thomas . Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. Much like their feline counterparts, they are victimized to this day by antiquated notions of the past. She would look around like she had sensed a spirit. Dog Days of Summer is sponsored by: The shepherds of the Greek myth serve as the Scriptural companions (Judges 14:11). Dog Quotes. Samson must have had a great following among Sun worshipers, his very name derives from the name of the Sun god "Shemesh." Already this year, the dog days have proved dangerous. The meaning has been lost, said Holberg, but the phrase has lived on.. Featured image: Crop of " Canis Major ,Lepus,Columba Noachi &Cela Sculptoris ", plate 30 in Urania's Mirror . "The dog days of summer." Expression For: The hottest days of summer. The fact that dogs have an exceptional sense of smell is undeniable. Despite some few differences, similarities between Samson's story and the Aristaeus myth, include; Samson's "vineyards of Timnath," paralleled as Icarus' vineyard. Herakles is believed to be a derivative from Samson. Here atthe Old Farmers Almanac, we considerthe Dog Daysto be the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11. Available from: http://www.academia.edu/5681942/Aristaeus_the_Pelasgian_Philistine_Samson, Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary - Judges 15. As it turns out, the canine connection refers to Sirius (the Dog Star) in the constellation Canis Major (large dog). Much like the limping dog, the individual will soon find that the world they once knew is no more. See more. It is advisable to drink lots of water and eat food that cools you down during the dog days of summer. The Warriors Who Shaped African History: The Horsemen of Oyo, Royal Mistress Jane Shore Walked Streets of London in her Underwear, Leonardo Da Vincis Notes Show He Understood Gravity Long Before Newton, Talks Begin on Repatriating Remains of Patrick Sarsfield, Irish War Hero, The Ramessid Dynasty: A Golden Era in Ancient Egypt, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Unleashing the End of the World, Unraveling the Mystery of the Carnac Stones: An Ancient Puzzle of Epic Proportions, Unraveling the Enigma of Aramu Muru, The Mysterious Gate of the Gods, Alleged Sighting of the Mythical Manananggal in the Philippines Causes Public Anxiety. Example #1: "It is during the dog days of summer that people hate coming out and prefer staying indoors to avoid heat strokes.". On the contrary, your canine caregiver might be just what the doctor ordered. in northeast Africa. Learn how to find the Dog Star in the night sky here. Nefer Say Nefer - Was Nefertiti Buried in the Valley of the Queens? (See: Apollodorus, "Bibliotheca" 3,192. and; "Nature Guide Stars and Planets." Weather Wisdom: The Dog Days of Summer - YouTube 0:00 / 0:53 Weather Wisdom: The Dog Days of Summer 16,851 views Jul 19, 2011 12 Dislike Share Save Old Farmer's Almanac 10.7K subscribers. Instead, the Dog Days are associated purely withthe time of summers peak temperaturesandhumidity. Rawgust. My understanding is that young chicks do not get a chance to acclimate to the cold because they still required warmth and protection to grow feathers by the time the cold hits. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. Disease would also be on the rise. June's moon reaches its fullest point at 12:11 a.m. EDT (0411 GMT) on Friday, June 13. Enjoying the 'Dog Days' of Summer at Disneyland Resort by Michael Ramirez, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort We all know that life can be "ruff" sometimes, but here at the Disneyland Resort, we want to make sure you enjoy your last days of summer. Celebration of raw feeding for pets for the month of . Those that it does have are frequently covered with a thick coat of fur, which reduces their ability to regulate temperature. Availability, scope and suppliers of these are subject to change without notice, and some restrictions and limitations may apply. Old-timers believed that rainfall on the Dog Days was a bad omen, as foretold in this verse: Penguin. Even though the mother-to-be may not be aware of the new life that is forming, the dog will be exceedingly gentle in order to protect not only her but the embryo she now hosts. Im off tomorrow, so catch you all on Monday. ( Wikimedia Commons ). The Dog Days of Summer program has a level cap of 51 and experience limit of 500,000.If you've been playing since release or early on, then many of the packs you'll already have unlocked multiple times, but if you recently began, this program has many great packs to upgrade your team. Megalithic Sites Are More than Just Stone, Neanderthal-Human Sex Caused a Million Covid Deaths, Caesars Savage Human Skewers Unearthed In German Fort, The Evidence is Cut in Stone: A Compelling Argument for Lost High Technology in Ancient Egypt. Dog Days bright and clear What are the Dog Days of summer,exactly? For better times, our hopes arevain. Heres the technology that helped scientists find itand what it may have been used for. As a result, if someone has died in a residence, regardless of how much time has passed since the incident, a canine will pick up on this and avoid the area, not because they are afraid, but out of reverence for the deceased. While medical intervention can make conception a reality, superstition holds that couples in search of a miracle need look no further than the family dog. Like New Testament or Star Trek: the Next Generation huge. So in about 50-some years, the sky shifts about one degree.. To our surprise, the myth was found to betrue.. 8 Superstitions About Dogs and Their Meanings Cindy Parmiter Aug 4, 2022 1:49 PM EDT If you are walking outside after dark and discover that you are being followed by a black dog, you'd do well to quicken your step. These animals can sniff it out. They believed the heat from the two stars combined is what made these days the hottest of the year, a period that could bring fever or even catastrophe. The authors wrote, This study wasconducted in order to challenge the myth that the rate of infections is higher during the dog days. Along with this natural antibacterial cleanser, the licking itself helps to clear away any debris or dirt that may have gotten trapped in the wound. It is also believed that a stray dog who smothers a stranger with attention is acting on behalf of someone who has completed their journey into the afterlife. Are you a fan of the Andy Griffith Show? Dog Days bright and clear 518 ff.). The most effective sweat glands old Fido does have are found on the pads of his paws; but even those can do only so much good. For the ancient Egyptians, Sirius appeared just before the Nile's flooding season, so they used the star as an indicator of the flood. This includes, but is not limited to, the nastiest entities the dark realm has to offer. Tired of the sweltering heat sometimes called the "dog days of summer?". Please be respectful of copyright. The same "Teumessian fox" or "Cadmean vixen" is associated with both Oedipus, and Herakles. She said they would get a glazed look in their eyes, and if you ever saw that look you could count on them being crazy and should get away from them as quickly as possible. If you toss it onto a table, after it slows down the pointing direction of the top will slowly go around in circles. Similarly to a top, Earths rotation is kind of wobbling around., The calendar is fixed according to certain events, but the stars have shifted according to the way that the Earth wobbles, said Larry Ciupik, astronomer at Adler Planetarium and director of the Doane Observatory. The Old Farmers Almanac,1817. And although Herakles, like Samson, was associated with his "pillars" he wasn't blinded, however Oedipus was. Editors note: This story was originally published on July 10, 2015. . hot summer hot dog dog fan panting dog dog in pool ice cream heat wave air conditioner waves thermostat Sort by: Most popular (Hyginus, Astronomica, 2. Sunny Anderson kicks it off with BBQ Salmon and Easy Salad, and. 2023 Pet Holidays: 100s of #Dog Holidays to Celebrate Throughout the Year! As lore has it, to witness the animal's plight and do nothing will result in a spate of bad luck befalling the person who turned their back on a soul in need. . Sirius was known as the "Dog Star" because it was the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Large Dog). | Designed by Simplicity Software, LLC. Some think that it means the type of weather that causes dogs to lose their minds. Historians say the phrase dates back to. Supposedly, if such a creature sets its sights on an individual during the twilight hours, this means that their soul has been marked for collection by the ruler of the netherworld. One of these sentiments asserts that if you are walking outside after dark and discover that you are being followed by a black dog, you'd do well to quicken your step. The Greeks envisioned the "Teumessian Fox" not a dog). Now, Herakles is an obvious derivative from Samson. One of Earth's loneliest volcanoes holds an extraordinary secret. Sometimes if I noticed a heatwaveI would start humming too. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. What the heck are "cat days"? Icarus, angered by this, took him and killed him (Hyginus, Astronomica 2.2). This happens in summer, but not necessarily during the DogDays. Under the right conditions, it can even be seen with the naked eye during the day. in both cases. Dogs, sensing the presence of these supernatural interlopers, will often alert their owners that something is amiss. Dog Swim Days 2022 - Swimming Pools Go to the Dogs At the end of summer dog swim days are held at public swimming pools and water parks across the country, usually as the pools are closing for the summer and before they're drained. The number "40," used as a time period, is widely attested to Hebrew convention. It is mentioned in Greek poetry as far back as 700 BC. According to superstition, to hear a dog howling for no apparent reason means that death is approaching. ", Samson and the Foxes, miniature (Judges 15:1-8: "Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches, and turned the foxes tail to tail, and put one torch in the middle between two tails. It was thought that this was an evil time when the sea would boil, wine would turn sour and dogs would go mad. Cat Nights harks back to a rather obscure old Irish legend concerning witches and the belief that a witch could turn herself into a cat eight times, but on the ninth time (August 17), she couldnt regain her human form. According to the Farmer's Almanac - the span from July 3 until August 11 is traditionally known as the dog days of summer. When he had set fire to the torches, he released the foxes into the standing grain of the Philistines. Which travel companies promote harmful wildlife activities? Some dogs seem to bay at just about everything. They believed the combined power of the stars is what made this the hottest time of year. Continue along the rewards path to earn the Boss . In ancient Egypt, the Nile River flooded each year, usually beginning in late June. Originally, the days ran from July 24th through August 24th. They have a connection to astrology pertaining to the star Sirius which is part of the constellation named the Greater Dog. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. The Dog Days of Summer Featured Program drops today in MLB The Show 22, and it's your chance to earn some of the hottest rewards to date. The maiden's father hosts a drinking bout (the word usually translated as "banquet" or "feast" at Judges 14:10, was the Hebrew "Mishteh" in reality means "drink" or "drinking.") https://www.facebook.com/AmandaWalker.Columnist, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. 19th century illustration of Canis Minor ( Wikimedia Commons ). Why dog days? Summer Quotes. Seeing a pitiful dog limping along on a street is a sad event in and of itself. Thus explaining why certain stars were dogs and, how the Sun, in conjunction with the dog stars was responsible for burning fields. Virgil, the Roman poet, wrote in theAeneid that fiery Sirius, bringerof drought and plague to frail mortals, rises and saddens the sky with sinisterlight., Is this just superstition? The dog, anticipating the emotions this joyous reunion will bring, cannot conceal its enthusiasm. as well. According to the Farmers' Almanac, the phrase refers to the time period that the Sun occupies the same region of the sky as Sirius, the brightest star visible from any part of Earth and part of the constellation named Canis Major, which means "Greater Dog.". Unlike the Egyptians, the ancient Greeks and Romans were not as pleased by Siriuss appearance. The god bade them expiate the death of Icarus with many victims, and asked from Jove that when Canicula rises he should send wind for forty days to temper the heat of Canicula." The name Sirius even stems from Ancient Greekserios, meaningscorching.. Dog Days , the phrase invokes the hottest, most stifling days of summer.The 40 days, beginning July 3 and ending August 11 coincide with the heliacal (at sunrise) rising of the Dog Star, Sirius. These skeletons may have the answer, Scientists are making advancements in birth controlfor men, Blood cleaning? Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. A mans world? dog days pl ( normally plural, singular dog day ) ( archaic) The days following the heliacal rising of Sirius, now in early August ( Gregorian) at dates varying by latitude . AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. Its a lot. The Danite champion was evidently taken as the messiah of a widespread solar cult and, along with his canine accomplices, gained heavenly status. In reply to CAT DAYS by Denise T (not verified). Although the "dog days" have been thought to traditionally run from July 3 to August 11 - certain common traditions say they're longer and extend on into the month of September. A surge of Arctic air will follow. It has been updated. This superstition took hold centuries ago in parts of Europe when vagabonds and drunkards began disappearing in the dead of night. In the latitude of the Mediterranean region this . Although this sounds plausible, it's not the right answer. 5 things NOT to do at home during the Arctic freeze. Wounds won't heal, they'll just fester and pain ya Put your right sock on first during the Dog Days or you'll fall and break your leg It's easier to get drunk so there are more drunks during this time of year, just look at Uncle Booger. The problem here is that a little event, known as precession, has taken place. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Keep your pets safe and secure on July Fourth. Jan C. Zadoks On the Political Economy of Plant Disease Epidemics . All throughout Greek and Roman literature, you found these things.. Divorce, financial hardship, health scares, and even homelessness are said to await those who ignore a dog that cannot touch all four paws to the ground. Thus the season, previously established by the Egyptians with flooding, took on a new connection with crop burning wildfires. Scientists just confirmed a 30-foot void first detected inside the monument years ago. A bigger mystery to me is why August 17th is designated as the start of "Cat Days" in the almanac and always has been. Unfortunately, these warnings aren't always heard or understood. A long-standing superstition has it that if a dog licks a wound, yours or theirs, it will heal faster. Any thoughts? They were thought to be slower to heal and were likely to leave a scar. A National Geographic team has made the first ascent of the remote Mount Michael, looking for a lava lake in the volcanos crater. Always provide your dog with a place to cool off and. The 40 days, beginning July 3 and ending August 11 coincide with the heliacal (at sunrise) rising of the Dog Star, Sirius. Weve had hard rains and very hot weather now my rooster is staying on perch not eating and not crowing. Sirius is a bright star and during the summer it rises with the sun. The frantic animal rushed into the standing corn which was summarily consumed. From then on, his dog, now ours, would mimic the sound that pierced through the night as the man who had raised him from a puppy was taken away, never to return. When this miscommunication occurs, the family pet is tasked with taking care of the problem themselves. a slightly different version of this post was first published on theanatomyofmelancholy.com on July 3, 2018. The simple exercise of rubbing an injury can hasten healing since it acts to manipulate the area, sending an army of antibodies to the rescue. Also check if he might be suffering from an illness. Countless stars dot the night sky. But isnt it funnyhow the memories remain. Although July and August are often the hottest months of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the hottest period can vary from year to year. It has absolutely no bearing on the weather, but I guess the Romans were still figuring things like that out. I believed her, and I loved her. The month itself gets its name from Caesar Augustus, adopted son of Julius Caesar. For the ancient Egyptians, Sirius appeared just before the Nile's flooding season, so they used the star as an indicator of the flood. Petrus Serrarius (a Dutch millenarian theologian, 16001669) and Samuel Bochart (a French Protestant biblical scholar, 1599 1667) finding the explanation about the young man and the pesky fox to be an unsatisfactory cause for such a well-established institution, concluded that the Romans likely derived the practice from Judea, as an to allusion to Samson and his foxes where, probably the burning of the Philistines' corn might, for some time, have been annually commemorated. The new year once started in Marchhere's why, Jimmy Carter on the greatest challenges of the 21st century, This ancient Greek warship ruled the Mediterranean, How cosmic rays helped find a tunnel in Egypt's Great Pyramid, Who first rode horses? To the Greeks and Romans, the dog days occurred around the time Sirius appears to rise alongside the sun, in late July in the Northern Hemisphere. Our modern concept of "dog days" is commonly traced by etymologists back through the Romans, to the Greeks, and yes, even as far back as the Egyptians. In other words Sirius (the Dog Star) is not there at or before sunrise anymore. (Corinna, Fragment 672. Most of us have encountered a stray dog at one time or another. Ancient Romans believed Sirius contributed to the sun's heat and thus referred to this extremely hot period as dis caniculrs, or "dog days." The term evolved to mean the 20 days before and. Hope thishelps! His main areas of research include ancient history, comparative religions, and mythology. BONUS: Youll also receive our freeBeginner GardeningGuide! But when accompanied by rain, for better times our hopes are vain. Saturday's high of 104, reached at 4:56 p.m.,. ), If you go back even as far as Homer, The Iliad, its referring to Sirius as Orions dog rising, and it describes the star as being associated with war and disaster, said Jay B. Holberg, author of Sirius: Brightest Diamond in the Night Sky and senior research scientist at the University of Arizona Lunar & Planetary Laboratory. Enjoy this article about themeaning behind theDog Days ofsummer! They didnt have James Spann to explain weather patterns back then. This blog was created to share a passion for all things Southern. The inextricable chase went on until Zeus, perplexed by their contradictory fates, turned both to stone and cast them into the stars as the constellations Canis Major (Laelaps) and Canis Minor (the Teumessian fox). Ah yes, the dog days of winter. The ancient Greeks and Romans called the sultriest days of summer the "dog days.". View dog days of summer videos Browse 62 dog days of summer stock illustrations and vector graphics available royalty-free, or search for hot summer or hot dog to find more great stock images and vector art. And the others don't explain how the stars (naturally associated with the wildfire season, because of their place in the summer sky,) became linked with dogs (who have no obvious affiliation with the wildfire season). If you are a superstitious sort, you can expect bad luck, intense heat, abrupt thunderstorms, fevers, flooding, and a generally more ill-tempered population. In ancient times, people associated the heat during this period with the concurrent rising of Sirius, nicknamed "the dog star." The phrase is a translation of the Latin dies caniculares, meaning "dog star days." The dog stars are portrayed as a pair (During the wildfire season, the blazing sun appears between them.) p. 275. Filed Under: Homespun Tagged With: dog days, hot, humid, southern weather. John R. Salverda is a researcher and author of several articles relating to the Hebrew origins of Greek mythology, many of which can be read at independent.academia.edu/JohnSalverda . If, however, they offer the animal comfort and medical attention, their show of kindness will be rewarded tenfold. It was more of a feeling. So, certainly the Greeks and the Romans have their roles to play in the continuum but in my view, we are remiss in overlooking the influence of the Hebrews when considering the origin of the modern idiom of the "dog days," particularly as it has to do with the account of Samson and his field blazing foxes. The phrase dog days goes all the way back to the ancient Egyptians, who reigned from around 3100 B.C. It therefore offers a completely terrestrial origin to the dog days model. Black Dogs Statistically speaking, black dogs are the least likely to be adopted from shelters. In 2021, the dog days span from July 3 to August 11. Aristaeus, an ancient divinity worshiped in Ceos, which had once been inhabited by Pelasgians." (Please see my article Aristaeus the Pelasgian/Philistine Samson referenced at the end of this piece). Note, too that shedding can vary from species to species, as well as environmental conditions, the animals nutrition and their growthrate. "The first week of August hangs at the very top of the summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. While some canines take this to extremes, it has been shown that the action does indeed have curative properties. Humans have been griping about the weather as far back as written history reaches, and the dog days were an important time for all. A friend claims that one should not hatch eggs during Dog Days. Our friend, the dog, does not come with a huge supply of sweat glands. And on behalf of Tippy, Topsy, and Taffy, "Honeybubs" (long story), Toby, and Tinker Bell, Tracy, Tuppence, and Mr. Buttons, the dogs that have so enriched my 94 years, not forgetting my current Cocker Spaniel . The concept dates back to Greek and Roman times. But originally, the phrase had nothing to do with dogs, or even with the lazy days of summer. Dog Days is the name for the most sultry period of summer, from about July 3 to Aug. 11. Any success they had experienced in the past will be wiped away, replaced by failure at every juncture. The dog days of summer are a difficult period for those who have to work out in the open. This bit of folklore also gives us the saying, A cat has nine lives. Because August is a yowly time for cats, this may have prompted the speculation about witches on the prowl in the first place. Example #3: "Katherine and I once went on a hoke during the dog days. She could be outside shelling peas while sitting in the shade under a big oak in her yard and suddenly announce it. So, fetch your Disney ears and get ready for a tail-wagging good time. This period marks the hottest time of summer in the northern hemisphere climatologically speaking.. Read about the life of actress Joanna Moore, who played Andys girlfriend, Peg, here. FACT has negotiated favorable agreements on behalf of its members with reputable benefit providers, all of whom assume full responsibility for their programs. (Diodorus Siculus, Library of History Book 4, Chap. pixabay 1. And depending on your latitude, the astronomical dog days can come at different times. It's the way that's the best and it covers the rest and I love you, Since most earthbound spirits go out of their way to lay low, being outed by the family pet is a complication they neither want nor need. Dog Days , the phrase invokes the hottest, most stifling days of summer. So we would too. The Teumessian Fox Alopex Teurmesios. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. This won't surprise those who identify Danaans with Danites. According to Strabo, Geography 5.2.4, Euripides says that Danaus, after settling in Greece, decreed; that all Pelasgians should henceforth be called Danaans.. The result is a periodic (about every 26,000 years) wobble, which changes our perspective with respect to how we view the surrounding stars and constellations. Whether this is done maliciously, which is doubtful, or as a merciful act is up for debate. The Pelasgian version of Aristaeus seems to be the inverse story of the Danite Samson, Aristaeus alleviated the scorching (caused however, by his Father the sun god with the pair of "dog" stars), while Samson was said to have caused it. To prevent this, she hummed hymns and spoke about the Lord. The Iliad can provide new insights on the role of motherhood among the ancient Greek gods, and by extension, amongst ancient mortal Greek women themselves. 2023Yankee Publishing, Inc., An Employee-Owned Company Please keep this in mind on hot and humid days. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, the unofficial authority on all things folklore and weather-related, the phrase "dog days" refers to the hottest time of the year, which is the 40 days that span from July 3 through August 11. It's perhaps understandable that the Greeks could've corrupted the story of Samson's paired foxes, into their unresolved chase myth. Closed now. The Almanac explains: August 11 coincides with the heliacal (at sunrise) rising of the Dog Star, Sirius. Available from: www.godrules.net/library/clarke/clarkejud15.htm, Judges 15:4-14 Bible Study Tools. The Christmas weekend could be the coldest in decades. Theres another reason that the dog days dont correspond neatly with the heat: The stars in Earths night sky shift independently of our calendar seasons. I've been spending my days counting all of the ways that I love you, And the sum of the ways that I counted amounted to one. Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Majoristhe Greater Dogwhich is where Sirius gets its canine nickname, as well as its officialname, Alpha Canis Majoris. 4). Well, according to a study of protein in 3,000-year-old canine bones that is. Custom programming and server maintenance by Reinvented Inc. Watch our video on the Dog Days and the Dog Star!