The sight, sound and smell of animals are a part of the story of every
great city - and are also part of its hidden history. The royal standard
of Scotland features a lion rampant, and Edinburgh can trace its
earliest depiction of the beast to the Roman occupation - long before
Scotland evolved into a nation. As marks of prestige and respect,
animals are highlighted in many public sculptures, bas-reliefs and other
artworks throughout the city. For centuries animals such as horses were
a crucial part of the economy. Horses transported goods and people in
and out of the city, while the growth in ownership created a demand for
saddlers, coach makers, grooms, fodder suppliers, horse trainers,
farriers, smiths and riding schools. Animals were also a source of
wonder and amusement, such as the elephant housed in a tenement in the
1700s and the legendary Greyfriars Bobby, who spent fourteen years
guarding the grave of his owner and is now immortalised in words, films
and monuments. The travelling menagerie of the Regency era gave the
ordinary citizen a taste of the exotic and within a few decades
Zoological Gardens Association landscaped gardens and built structures
to house animals for the city's latest attraction.
