A talk by Sir Terence Clark

Join us for a talk on The Evolution of the Saluki or Tazı as an Enduring Part of the Cultural Heritage of the Middle East

In this lavishly illustrated talk, it will be shown that the archaeological record indicates the existence of a Saluki-like hunting hound in Mesopotamia from at least the 6th millennium BCE. From there it spread across the region, manifesting itself increasingly in representational art forms as well as in poetry and prose as the ‘Companion of Kings’. It was accorded special recognition by implication in the Qur’an and the Hadith, so that among Muslims it has always enjoyed a special status. It has therefore managed to survive the many upheavals that have beset the region over the centuries and today is even experiencing an extraordinary revival in some parts, so that its unique place in the region’s cultural heritage remains assured.

Date: 8 December 2022

Time: 7 pm

Venue: 10 Maple Street, London, W1T 5HA

Free Admission but registration is required. Click below to register for viewing ⤵️

Sir Terence Clark graduated from the Royal Air Force as a Pilot Officer Russian linguist. He then entered the British Diplomatic Service and was sent for training in Arabic to the Middle East Centre for Arab Studies in Lebanon. His career took him all over the Middle East and North Africa, with service in Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco, the Trucial States (later United Arab Emirates), Oman, and Libya and culminated with his appointment as Ambassador first to Iraq and then to Oman. He acquired his first Salukis in Iraq but went on to breed them and course with them in Europe. In retirement he has travelled extensively in the region and wider afield in Central Asia to keep in touch with exponents of the breed there. He is the author of several books and many articles on the history and development of Salukis in their countries of origin.