– The Free University of Hydra –

the School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

and the Municipality of Hydra

Invite you to attend a conference on the role of the donkey and the mule

in the culture of the Mediterranean

“Donkey and Mule Culture:

Fighting for survival in the modern era”

to be held at the Melina Mercouri Hall

on the Island of Hydra, near Athens

Friday 2nd October – Sunday 4th October 2009

¶ In October 2009 the Free University of Hydra, in collaboration with the School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the Mayor and Municipality of Hydra, is organising an international conference which will examine, document and celebrate the role of donkey and the mule in the culture of the countries bordering the Mediterranean basin.

The island of Hydra has a special place in Europe as a developed economy where a large percentage of personal transport and transportation of goods is done by mule and donkey. There are no cars. We are proud of our mule and donkey culture.

The conference will examine every aspect of donkey and mule culture – ranging from the economics of rearing and maintaining livestock, to the shaping of the Mediterranean landscape, and taking in literature and philosophy en route. Issues such as the working conditions of animals, gender issues in donkey use, donkeys in leisure activities etc will be addressed.

The themes of our previous conferences have included: donkeys in ancient history; the donkey in religious representation; a Charter for the Working Donkey; the tales of Nasreddin Hoja; saddle-making, ornamentation and harnesses of mules and donkeys; the languages of donkeys and donkey-drivers; women and their donkeys; donkeys and song; culinary considerations of donkeys; the donkey goes to war; and mules and donkeys as an environmentally sustainable transport option.

Our conference will be a relaxed affair, with space for specialists and non-specialists alike. There will be opportunities to meet the local donkey and mule population, and their drivers. There will also be an opportunity to participate in a pre-conference donkey trek on the island

Click here for the Programme of the 2009 Conference

Click here for the Programme of the 2007 Conference

Click here for the Programme of the 2005 Conference

Website: http://www.geocities.com/DonkeyConference

If you wish to attend the conference, or would be interested to present a paper, please write to the Conference organisers at the addresses below.

Ed Emery
[Hydra Donkey Conference]
Peterhouse,
Cambridge CB2 1RD, United Kingdom

E-mail: ed.emery [@] thefreeuniversity.net

Dr Georgios Arsenos,

Assistant Professor,

School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

P.O. Box 393, GR-54124, Greece

E-mail: [email protected]

¶ The FREE UNIVERSITY OF HYDRA is a conference-based organisation created
with the support of the Mayor and Municipality of Hydra and dedicated to the study and research of all matters concerning the culture, economics, history and social life of all the countries which border the Mediterranean.

Universitas adversitatis

Last updated: 9.iii.09