Rhodesian Ridgebacks

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Shalom Camera-Critters friends.

Have you ever seen a Rhodesian Ridgeback?

Strangely enough, the dog is characterized by a ridge of hair along its back running in the opposite direction to the rest of its coat.

I had never even heard of a Rhodesian Ridgeback until these three lively puppies were piled on my lap by the neighbors.

The breed began in Rhodesia (today Zimbabwe).

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Wikipedia says

"The breed's history dates back to early in the 18th century, when the first European settlers found dogs domesticated by Khoi-khoi tribes with the hair on the spine turned forward. In the late 19th century, big game hunters needed a hunting dog that was tough, resistant to disease, and intelligent enough to avoid crocodiles and snakes, but brave and fast enough to face a lion. Also important was a tick-repellent smooth coat and tight paw pads to protect against thorns and rough terrain."
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Fortunately Israel no longer has lions roaming wild.

But we used to!

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You will enjoy looking at the BibleWalks.com page about the Dir Hijla/Gerassimos monastery near the Dead Sea.

There is a statue of a lion there and many icons and paintings of a lion and St. Gerassimos with the Mountains of Judea behind them.

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The legend says that the Abbot encountered a lion roaring with pain near the Jordan River. He removed a thorn from the lion's paw.

The lion was so thankful that he became tame and joined the community.

In the Greek Orthodox art he is often depicted with a donkey and a camel, his friends from the monastery.

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