Gymnesian Islands "Baliarides". After the whole archipelago (the "Pityuses" and "Gymnesians") came under Roman rule, the islands gained the overall Latin name "Insulae Baliares" or "Baleares Insulae"; the collective concept has continued in use in modern languages, hence ultimately the English name "Balearic Islands". Gymnesian Islands The Gymnesians ( , ), or Gymnesic Islands (), is a collective name given to the two largest (and easternmost) Balearic islands, Majorca and Menorca, distinguishing them from the Pityuses (Catalan: "Illes Pitiüses"; Spanish: "Pitiusas"), or Pine Islands, Ibiza and Formentera. The word "Gymnesian" (from the Greek γυμνήτες "gymnetes") means "naked". The Ancient Greeks recruited the
Balearic donkey in 2008. At the end of 2013 the total number recorded in the stud book was 464, all of which were in the Balearic Islands. The Balearic donkey is similar to the Catalan breed, but smaller and with lighter bone. Jacks stand about and weigh about , while jennies stand about and weigh about . The coat is black or nearly black in colour, shading to pale on the belly, muzzle and surround of the eyes. Before the mechanisation of agriculture, Balearic mares were used in all kinds of agricultural work, both for burden, carrying sacks of olives and the