Goddess Athena's Wise Little Owl - Sterling and 11 similar items

Handmade silver earrings inspired by the ancient Greek owl, the symbol of wisdom. A classy pair of earrings crafted with extra care in sterling silver that makes a perfect gift idea full of symbolic meaning for you and your beloved ones. Dimensions Width: 11.43 mm ~~ 0.45" Height: 23 mm ~~ 0.905" (hook not included in the measurement) Material 925 Sterling Silver Reference 95.00.61 Athenian Wise Little Owl - Short History and Symbolism Throughout history and across many cultures, owls have been associated with wisdom. This is the case of the Ancient Greek Owl as well. The owl, and specifically a "little owl" had been Goddess Athena's symbol. One of Athena's epithets is "Glaukopis" meaning bright-eyed. Etymologically, this word derives from "glaukos", meaning "gleaming" and "ops", meaning eye. It's worthy to note that the word "glaux" (owl) is from the same root, apparently because of the bird's unique eyes. So, the bird that sees in the dark is closely associated with Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Athena has been depicted with her sacred bird in the Athenian tetradrachms, minted in various versions for about 400 years. The owl was protected and inhabited the Acropolis in great numbers and was believed to bring victory to battles. The little owl also kept an eye on Athenian trade from the reverse side of the tetradrachm. Owl till now is considered to be a symbol of wisdom, being an unofficial symbol of Mensa Club.