Cave Canem (Beware of dog) - 2nd Version: Ultra-Soft Premium Cotton T-Shirt
"Cave Canem" means "Beware of the dog" in Latin. This design is inspired by the Roman mosaic at the Casa di Orfeo, Pompeii, Italy.
In Pompeii, dog mosaics of this kind were typically placed at the entrances of houses. Before even reaching the atrium, a visitor would see the homeowner’s boundary marked on the floor.
One of the most famous examples of this tradition is the dog mosaic bearing the inscription “Cave Canem” at the entrance of the House of the Tragic Poet. This Latin phrase translates to “Beware of the dog.” The piece from the House of Orpheus, however, is an uninscribed example of this same tradition.
There is an interesting detail I would like to share with you regarding this mosaic: the House of Orpheus did not merely feature a dog in mosaic form. On November 20, 1874, the remains of a real, chained dog were discovered at the entrance of the house; shortly thereafter, a plaster cast of the animal was made.
During the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, this dog had been left tethered in the entranceway. Traces of its leather collar and two bronze rings, indicating that it was chained, have been preserved in the plaster cast.