skip to content
 
black and white photograph of a donkey standing next to a an archaeological feature

George traversed the Turkish landscape in vehicles and on foot, but it was the donkey who most frequently appeared in his photographs, providing a helpful scale and an invaluable load bearer.

 

black and white photograph of George Bean on a donkey with four local Turkish guides

George on donkey, Marmaris-Gölenye, Dereözü Road 1951 (E7.1)

 

A Donkey to the Rescue

Jane Bean recalls one particular occasion in which an unfortunate George was assisted by an equally unfortunate donkey.

 

Some time in the 1950’s, when George was traveling on his own, he had the misfortune to damage a knee quite badly. Often in Anatolia one slept on the roof of the house to catch the cool breeze. On this occasion he got up in the night to seek the garden, completely forgetting where he was, thus stepping into space.  Perhaps he was lucky to get away with a badly sprained knee!

After resting up for a few days he couldn’t afford more time, so set out with a group of helpers to explore a site high above the village. The knee lasted long enough to get  him up there and note their findings but then became impossibly painful, rendering him immobile.

The donkey had been left at a lower level, as the path was steep and narrow, so the young man on George’s left in the picture carried  him on his back to where the animal was tethered. He finished the journey as shown, but how either the man or donkey managed to carry him, I can’t imagine.

It is not surprising that George had a great respect and affection for the Anatolian peasants.

 

black and white photograph of donkeys in front of a ruined wall

Cibyra 1946-56 (A28.24) 

 

black and white photograph of a donkey in front of a fallen stone with a Greek inscription

 Comama 1955 (B10.5)

 

black and white photograph of a donkey next to a ruined building, with a man seated

Çomaklı 1958 (B37.1)

 

black and white photograph of a donkey next ot an archaeological feature

Eğneş 1957 (C10.4)

 

black and white photographoof a donkey and two men next to a body of water

Cormi 1953 (D8.21)

 

black and white photograph of a donkey grazing in an archaeological landscape with mountains

Manay 1953 (D8.55)

Every cast tells two stories.
One ancient. One modern.

Admission is free.

 

Just drop in: no need to book

 

Lift out of order

Our lift is currently out of order which means we are not able to provide step-free access at present.

 

Opening hours

Tues-Fri: 10am-5pm
Sat (univ. term-time only): 10am-1pm
Sun and Monday: Closed

Closed on Bank Holidays

 

Saturday Opening

Please note: We are open on Saturdays only during University of Cambridge term time.

We are currently closed on Saturdays. Our next Saturday opening will be Saturday 27 April.

 

Visit us

Museum of Classical Archaeology
Faculty of Classics
Sidgwick Avenue
Cambridge
CB3 9DA

We do not have an entrance on the road. Find us inside the Sidgwick Site.

 

Join our mailing list

 

 

Get in touch

Tel. +44 (0)1223 330402
Email 

 

Find us on social media:

 

 

 

Copyright statement

All images and material on our websites are ©Museum of Classical Archaeology, University of Cambridge unless otherwise stated. If you would like to reproduce our images, you can now do so for non-commercial use at no charge.

See also our Copyright Notice and Take Down Policy.