Dog Names Meaning Favor

One legend states that the canine was given to Alexander by his uncle Alexander the Molossian who was King of Epirus (now Northwestern Greece). The dog was said to have attacked and beaten both an elephant and lion so had proven himself a great warrior canine. Another story states that Alexander met with Sophytes, a ruler of Jech Doab in Punjab. As a great gift Sophytes bestowed 150 dogs on Alexander. Each of the canines was known to be a great and fearless warrior. To display the dog's strength, Sophrytes chose four of the dogs to fight a lion. The dogs were winning so Sophytes sent a man into the ring to cut off the leg of one of the dogs. Alexander became upset at the notion of one of the great fighting dogs being maimed, so the dog was spared such mutilation. Some claim that one of the dogs who bravely fought the lion become Alexander's beloved Peritas. 

How Peritas became Alexander's favored war dog may always remain a mystery, but the facts clearly show that the dog bravely fought alongside his owner in many battles. The canine was not afraid to take on men, lions, or elephants. He is said to have boldly launched himself between his owner and a charging war elephant. The dog latched onto the elephant's lip and saved Alexander. 

Alexander took Peritas with him to India where he fought in the Battle of Gaugamela against 15 war elephants. Interestingly, Alexander was so impressed with the elephants that when he won the battle, he enlisted the elephants into his own army's ranks. 

One time Alexander was attacked by the Malians, but Peritas held off the troops until backup could arrive. It was in this last great battle that Peritas sustained horrible war wounds. Despite massive loss of blood and unbelievable pain, the dog crawled across the battlefield to Alexander where he laid his head on the man's lap and died. 

Alexander was heartbroken over the loss of his beloved Peritas. Many said he never recovered from the pain of his dog's death. He named the city he overtook in battle with his favored canine by his side "Peritas." Today, the town of Peritas still contains the dog's tomb. Alexander laid the pooch to rest at the entrance to the city and had a statue of the canine erected in the dog's honor.