What is the name of Odysseus's faithful dog?

Argos is Odysseus’s faithful dog in Homer’s Odyssey. The aging hunting dog recognizes his master when Odysseus finally returns to Ithaca disguised as a beggar.

Odysseus had raised Argos before leaving for the Trojan War. During the hero’s twenty-year absence—ten years at war and ten years trying to get home—the dog is neglected and left in poor condition. When Odysseus approaches the palace, Argos hears his voice and recognizes him immediately, even though everyone else sees only a shabby stranger.

Odysseus cannot openly greet Argos without exposing his identity. He hides his tears while the dog weakly wags his tail. After seeing his master again, Argos dies. The brief reunion is one of the most moving scenes in the epic and emphasizes the dog’s loyalty, the cost of Odysseus’s absence, and the decay of his household.

Some translations spell the name Argus rather than Argos, but both forms identify the same dog. Argos should not be confused with Cerberus, the many-headed hound guarding the Underworld, or Orthrus, another monstrous dog from Greek mythology.