The Neapolitan Mastiff, like other molosser-types, is an ancient breed. Molosser-type dogs can be traced back to 3000 BCE as artifacts from this time from Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia and Asia depict the dogs. It is likely that the Neapolitan Mastiff's ancestors were used by King Porus in the war against Alexander The Great. Alexander the Great was impressed with these dogs, bringing some back to Greece with him. The Roman Emperor Paolo Emilio then brought some of these dogs back to Rome with him after a military campaign, where they were then used as fighting dogs in the Colosseum. As these giant dogs were being passed around, they were being crossed with other breeds such as mastiffs from England. Once some of these dogs found their way to Italy, breeders in the Neapolitan area selected for traits that would make for a good home guardian. They produced the Neapolitan Mastiff who has proved itself worthy as a brave and devoted guard dog.