About Asses and «Semi-Asses» in the Ancient Epic Tradition
Levinskaya O. L.
It is absolutely evident that in the world of Greek archaic epos mules (Gr. f||jiovoi) are very important creatures, widely spread and used in different spheres of life. At the same time in this very world there are no asses, which are absolutely necessary for breeding mules. This paradox can be explained rather simply, but the explanation leads far away from Greece, to Mesopotamia and shows how closely these two areas were connected, even in the system of epic images.