Dog days of summer: Where does this phrase actually come from?
During the summer, a unique-sounding phrase is often thrown around in reference to the warm phase of the year: The dog days of summer. It is an expression which never fails to pique one’s interest in learning about is origin and meaning. Interestingly enough, it does not have much to do with dogs, our four-legged best friend. Read on to find out what this expression really means and where it originates from.
What is the meaning of the phrase “dog days of summer”?
The “dog days of summer” essentially refer to the summer months when the temperature is higher than the rest of the year. Thus, it is another name for the hottest period of the year. In other contexts, it can also mean a period of stagnancy, inactivity and decline. The phrase gained popularity after being referenced by Homer in his great poem, Iliad. Here, Homer attributed the star to war and disaster. However, the meaning has taken a more casual approach in modern times where today, we use it just to mean the summer season.
Where does “dog days of summer” originate from?
Even with the explicit usage of the word “dog” in it, the expression “dog days of summer” has nothing to do with these domestic animals. The phrase has its origins in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Then, the Greeks and Romans did not quite refer to literal dogs, but rather, to ‘Sirius’ which is the great astronomical dog-shaped star. It is also referred to as the ‘Alpha Canis Majoris’ or very simply, the ‘Dog Star’. It is the brightest star to shine in the night sky, and is located in the Canis Major constellation. According to Ancient Romans, this star was also a reason for the sun’s blaring heat in the summer months which they called the diēs caniculārēs, translated as “dog days” in English.
Moreover, this star also held significance in Ancient Egypt, where it was known as the ‘Nile Star’ or the ‘Star of Isis’. Egypt’s River Nile was easily its most important natural resource which dictated the agricultural prosperity of the Egyptians. Back then, the people here noticed that Sirius rose before dawn in the sky during the summer solstice. This was exactly around the time that the great Nile would flood.
The Farmers’ Almanac, which is an annual American periodical that provides long-range weather forecasts, full moon dates and times, etc. says that the Dog Star shines exceptionally brightly during the summer months. It is also believed that it rises and sets in congruence with the sun in certain parts of the world.