![]() ![]() The Romans referred to people who could not read and write as “donkeys”. ![]() As early as the sixth century BCE, Isidore spoke of donkeys as “lazy and foolish” and Homer described them as “tardus”. Donkeys have always suffered a reputation as “stupid animals”. In Roman times, donkeys were really expensive, costing up to 400.000 sesterces, equivalent to tens of thousands of euros.ĭespite the critical roles they played in agriculture, travel and transport throughout human history, donkeys are often the butt of jokes and garner little respect. Donkeys were first used by people in agricultural activities, and demand for their labor gave them a high purchase value. The ancient Egyptians and the inhabitants of Libya started the process of domestication. These asses are still alive today, but are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Somalian wild asses are the ancestors of the modern domestic donkey. The history of donkeys is closely tied to the history of human civilization. Yet donkeys enjoy a respectable position in ancient myths and religions, which showcase aspects of their nature less well known today. We are used to thinking of donkeys as animals fully subjugated to serving humans. Donkeys are in fact a highly brilliant animal despite popular misconceptions and stereotypes. This fable of Aesop, the famous Greek writer, draws attention to a quality of donkeys that may sound strange to modern ears: their intelligence. Therefore, wolf picked up that donkey’s hoof ![]()
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