Cavalier Argos,
a Man's best companion

Diogenes of Sinope by Jean-Léon Gérôme

WELCOME

The more I learn about people,
the more I love my dog

Mark Twain

What is in my Name

My name is Argos, in homage to the greatest epic Poet of all times, Homer, who immortalized the poignant friendship between a dog and a man.
The book XVII of The Odyssey, narrates the moment king Odysseus returns to Ithaca disguised by the goddess Athena, his protector, as a beggar and only his beloved dog Argos recognizes him:
"As they were thus talking, a dog that had been lying asleep raised his head and pricked up his ears. This was Argos, whom Ulysses had bred before setting out for Troy, but he had never had any work out of him. In the old days he used to be taken out by the young men when they went hunting wild goats, or deer, or hares, but now that his master was gone he was lying neglected on the heaps of mule and cow dung that lay in front of the stable doors till the men should come and draw it away to manure the great close; and he was full of fleas. As soon as he saw Ulysses standing there, he dropped his ears and wagged his tail, but he could not get close up to his master. When Ulysses saw the dog on the other side of the yard, dashed a tear from his eyes without Eumaeus seeing it, and said: "Eumaeus, what a noble hound that is over yonder on the manure heap: his build is splendid; is he as fine a fellow as he looks, or is he only one of those dogs that come begging about a table, and are kept merely for show?"
'This hound', answered Eumaeus, 'belonged to him who has died in a far country. If he were what he was when Ulysses left for Troy, he would soon show you what he could do. There was not a wild beast in the forest that could get away from him once he was on its tracks. But now he has fallen on evil times, for his master is dead and gone, and the women take no care of him. Servants never do their work when their master's hand is no longer over them, for Jove takes half the goodness out of a man when he makes a slave of him.'
As he spoke he went inside the buildings to the cloister where the suitors were, but Argos died as soon as he had recognized his master. "

Thanks to my ancestor Argos we gained the reputation of being a faithful and best companion to a good man.
In my name converge also an homage to the greatest contemporary intellectual poet who wrote this line:
"Yo he sido Homero; en breve, seré Nadie, como Ulises; en breve, seré todos: estaré muerto." [I have been Homer; soon, I will be Nobody, like Ulysses; soon, I will be everybody: I will be dead.]

Outline of my biography

But now the time has come to go away. I go to die, and you to live;
but which of us goes to the better lot, is known to none but God.
'Apology of Socrates'
by Plato

I was born a British Cavalier King Charles Spaniel the 23rd April 2008 in England; the same day that Shakespeare, Cervantes and Saint George are celebrated.

Eight weeks later, I had to separate from my parents, my brothers and my sisters, and was adopted by Miguel-Angel; since then I live in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, first in Siddhartha House (where this picture was taken when I was still a puppy) and then in our home in the Greenwich Maritime area.
Soon Miguel-Angel and I became best companions, as we both were keen to understand each other.

We loved to stroll by the river Thames, in the beautiful Royal Park of Greenwich, in the North Greenwich Peninsula, and in the estates of St Alfege, of St Paul and of St Nicholas churches; where I donated and supervised planting an Olive tree to honor Christopher Marlowe, the great English Dramatist and Poet whose mortal body rest in the later church yard, my parish.
The Olive tree is a symbol of harmony between the Creator and us his creatures; the Olympic crowns were made of its branches and leaves.

Me, Argos, supervising the planting of a 3 years young Olive tree, also Kew Garden lavenders and jasmins; assisted by Barbara and Maureen, at St Nicholas Church.
[Spring 2011]

I was very fond of my home, plenty of toys to play with and many beds for me to rest anywhere.
I loved my garden, where we grew many types of bamboos, figs, olive trees, lavender of every color and wonderful perfume (which the bees enjoy very much), wisterias from California and from Japan, spices and grasses of all sizes, shape and colors...

There is also a lovely deep pond, designed in a deck terrace, were my fishes of all colors lived. Every day we greeted each other.
I played hunting with the Squirrels who like to hide food in my garden.
I feeded all my friends, including birds: Robins, Great Tilts, Blackbirds... and Sand Martins who started visiting my home since I moved there. Some birds nest in my garden, year after year.
They gave me joy with their variety of voices and songs.

I kept any cat at bay because their predating nature is to hunt for pleasure and are always interested in killing fishes or birds. (In fact 10 millions cats live in the UK and, unknown to many, every year they kill over 200 million innocent fellow animals.)

Also I enjoyed to travel in my home country and abroad, by car or by plane always in cabin with my companions.
I loved very much my friend Nicolas-Alexandre, but he had not as much time as I would like to enjoy together; but when he is free we both love to play or go to the beach or walk together in the forests.... and we did enjoyed holidays overseas: France, Japan, Portugal, etc.

Often I used to spend a full day outdoors: walking, resting and eating in the beautiful Hampstead Heath where I made several friends with dogs of all breeds, and with many humans as well.

Over all, I enjoyed a life blessed with love and friendship, which I wish every fellow animal -dog or human- could enjoy for the world would be a better home to all living creatures.

On starting the 23rd day in the 8th month of the 15th year of my life, my soul broke free from my body that had became a prison; due less to my old age than to congenital and degenerative illness -inflicted upon dogs by selfish beasts breading recklessly.

The ashes of my body will, in time, reunite with my friend's ashes, to stay together in a few places around the Earth where we enjoyed wonderful hours in everlasting friendship; and in the unforgettable Ithaca, birthplace of my Homeric name.

Our souls -immortal as they are (logically deduced by Socrates)- continue their loving dialogue, waiting to reunite on the eternal Island of the Blessed.

Christopher Marlowe's memorial garden of Olive tree, lavenders and jasmines by Argos.

[as they are starting their 16 years of life: 23 April 2023; photo by CKCS Georgie]

The engraved memorial plaque reads:

...And in his sportful hands an olive-tree...

Olive trees have been symbol of Friendship and Peace, crowns for Poets and Olympians, an allegory of Jesus in the Bible…
This olive tree, lavenders and red jasmine were gardened in honour of dramatist & poet Christopher Marlowe -contemporary of immortals Shakespeare and Cervantes- whose young body rest in this churchyard.
Gifts by CavalierArgos.org on behalf of
The Friends of Sir J L Borges Worldwide Society.
St George's Day 2008

Me thinking, on one of my beds,
a sunny day at Siddhartha House

'All The Things You Are'

by Ella Fitzgerald

About my site

With my human companion, Miguel-Angel, we will publish information not only on me and on my aristocratic breed, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, but also on all dogs and on my friends: Darwin, Evie, Bella, Lily, Nelson, Rufus, Rocky, Corvette, Thea, Bonny, Sebastian, Freddy, Maverick, Diva, Millie, Chloe, Maze, Schema, Portia, Messy, Oscar, Wonder, Blue Boy ... and their companions.
We will publish as well information on Greek philosophers who, appreciating our virtues, found us a role model of honesty for mankind. I refer to Diogenes of Sinope, disciple of Antisthenes, who was himself a disciple of the wisest man ever, Socrates.
You will also find in these pages a selection of Poetry that dogs like me have inspired over the centuries to great Poets and unknown ones. As well as paintings, photography, sculpture and music, all inspired to artist around the world and throughout Time by the unique companionship between Dog and Man.

Enjoy the visit, your observations would be welcome.
Cordial good wishes to you.