Cattle
The phrase “livestock as liquid assets” isn’t just a metaphor. In ancient and pastoral societies, cows, goats, and sheep were literal currency. Livestock could be used to pay fines, settle marriages, or trade for other goods. The more cattle you had, the richer and more influential you were.
In fact, the Latin word pecunia (money) comes from pecus (cattle). Even in the Bible and Homeric epics, wealth is measured in flocks. It may seem inconvenient to carry a cow into a marketplace, but when societies were built around agriculture and survival, your best bank account had four legs and a moo.
Advertisements
Advertisements
Advertisements