Přehled o publikaci

The image of a Cretan man or woman sitting sideways on a donkey or a donkey with a heavy, bulky load is almost synonymous with pre-industrial Crete. As evidenced by osteological archaeological collections, Eq. Asinus was present in Crete from the turn of the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC, although its depiction was missing until the Middle Ages. Some figures in archaeological contexts depict persons sitting sideways on an equine, whose identification as a horse, hybrid, or donkey is impossible. Old photographs, artifacts in folklore museums, and local memory attest to the frequent use of donkeys in the island's daily economy. It can be summarised that even the poorest families owned at least one donkey, which was intensively used for work and transport. The necessary equipment included the so-called "somari". That is a wooden saddle for a donkey or occasionally for a hybrid. The saddle consisted of two inverted V- shaped forks connected by wooden planks. The front fork was usually flexible and could expand according to the size of the animal's withers. The saddles extended from withers to loins. They were fastened with leather straps across the belly. Strap below the tail or across the chest was occasionally used, too. A thick woolen blanket was always placed as a backing to prevent chafing. One stirrup for mounting may be attached. The rider could sit on the animal astride or sideways, which was more common even for men. In case of need of a heavier load, the transported material was tied to the wooden crossbars of the saddle. The somaria saddles were crafted by specialists known as samarades. Usually, they were left plain; however sometimes decorated with metal applications, beads, colored woolen straps, or painted. While they are still used in some tourist attractions, the art of making them has sadly faded into history. Somaria allowed the rider's or load's weight to be distributed well. However, it was not suitable for faster moves.