Medieval Gilded Donkey Figurine, MG 139/025

The domestic donkey has it’s origins in Egypt c. 4000 BC. They quickly became vital in the expansion of trade routes and from Africa their use spread from Syria to Siberia. The Roman Empire relied on the donkeys ability to act as pack animals and navigate routes such as the Silk Road from the second-century BC. Bridles and bridle bits were made of a wide variety of materials including wood, bone, …