Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, was so impressed by the great eyes and solemn appearance of the Owl.



Ceramic owls collection
owl: the mythological bird
Owl#1    Code:07O1( Height:14.5cm)
        Owl#2    Code: 07O2 (Height:13.5cm)
                Owl#3   Code: 07O3   (Height:7.5cm)

Owl#4    Code: 07O4      ( Height:12cm)

Owl#5    Code: 07O5   ( Height:10.5cm)

Owl#6    Code: 07O6    ( Height:11cm)




Owl#7    Code: 07O7      ( Height:11cm)
Owl#8    Code: 07O8         ( Height:9 cm)
Owl#9    Code: 07O9      (Height:12cm)

 


Owl#10    Code: 07O10       ( Height:7cm)
Owl#11    Code: 07011           ( Height:6 cm)
Owl#12    Code: 07O12  ( Height:8.5 cm)




Owls
mythology

In the mythology of ancient Greece, Athene, the Goddess of Wisdom, was so impressed by the great eyes and solemn appearance of the Owl that, having banished the mischievous crow, she honoured the night bird by making him her favourite among feathered creatures. Athene's bird was a Little Owl, (Athene noctua). This Owl was protected and inhabited the Acropolis in great numbers. It was believed that a magical "inner light" gave Owls night.

As the symbol of Athene, the Owl was a protector, accompanying Greek armies to war, and providing ornamental inspiration for their daily lives. If an Owl flew over Greek Soldiers before a battle, they took it as a sign of victory. The Little Owl also kept a watchful eye on Athenian trade and commerce from the reverse side of their coins.


Athenian silver tetradrachm
Classical style,  5th century BC.


Athenian silver tetradrachm
Hellenistic style, 2nd century BC.

In early Rome a dead Owl nailed to the door of a house averted all evil that it supposedly had earlier caused. To hear the hoot of an Owl presaged imminent death. The deaths of Julius Caesar, Augustus, Commodus Aurelius, and Agrippa were apparently all predicted by an Owl.

"...yesterday, the bird of night did sit Even at noonday, upon the market place, Hooting and shrieking" (from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar")