The famous Athenian Owl Tetradrachm Coin (5th century BCE)

 

The Owl of Athena was one of the most important symbols in ancient Greece. It became a political, literary and philosophical symbol. Athena was a virgin warrior goddess and was widely worshipped in the Greek world. The goddess was the embodiment of wisdom, strategy, warfare and technical skills. Athena was long associated with the owl. Some believe it was inherited from the Indo-Europeans or Minoans (2000-1500 BCE). Owls are intelligent birds and highly effective hunters. These qualities are those that represent many of the aspects of Athena. There were many depictions of Athena with her companion, the owl. According to the myth, the owl sat on the blind side of the goddess and allowed her to see everything and to comprehend the truth.                        

Athens Greece Silver Tetradrachm, 440 BCE

Some believe that the name of the greatest Greek city Athens came from the goddess. 

                           

Athena holding a helmet and a spear, with an owl (490-480 BC), The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

                         

Mattei Athena at Louvre. Roman copy from the 1st century BC after a Greek original of the 4th century BC
           

The owl became a symbol of the city. Many Athenian coins have the symbol of Athena and the owl. 

The Romans were deeply influenced by Greek religion and myth. One of Rome's most important deities was Minerva, the Latin Goddess of reason, wisdom, strategy, poetry and handicraft became associated with Athena. The Romans adopted the Owl of Athena to represent the powers and characteristics of Minerva. Like her Greek counterpart, the Roman deity came to be represented by the symbol of the nocturnal raptor in art and coins.

                       

Fresco of the Roman goddess Minerva
 

The owl of Athena became the common obverse of the Athenian tetradrachms after 510BC and according to Philochorus (Greek historian of the third century BC), the Athenian tetradrachm was known as ''glaux'' (little owl) throughout the ancient world and ''owl'' in present day numismatics.

                         

Raised relief image of Minerva on a Roman gilt silver bowl, 1st century BCE

 

Aristotle used the symbol of the owl to denote the wise. The 19th century German idealist philosopher Hegel famously wrote that ''the owl of Minerva spreads its wings only with the falling of the dusk''. This refers to the fact that people only become wise after the event has passed. Philosophy appears only in the ''maturity of reality'', because it understands in hindsight.  

The owl is still a symbol of wisdom to this day. Today being as ''wise as an owl'' is a popular expression.  

                     

Athens Tetradrachm, 465 BCE, silver, weight 17.15 g, Obverse: Head of Athena wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with spiral palmette and three olive leaves, Reverse: AOL Owl standing with closed wings, head facing, behind olive sprig with one berry and crescent. All within incuse square.

 

The thick and heavy Athenian owl tetradrachm was the largest silver coin of its time. These were produced for over four hundred years. While the art style changed, the theme remained consistent, showing Athena, on the obverse and an owl on the reverse. Mintage of these coins started around 512 BCE and continued through the early fifth century BCE. In 449 BCE, the designs were revised, and production increased. These later coins are more common than the earlier issues. The value of a tetradrachm was too high for daily transactions, but was used for building projects, trade and payment for war preparations.

The inscription ''AOE'' is an abbreviation of AOENAION, ''of the Athenians''. These coins were copied by other countries too. The reverse features an olive sprig, referring to olive oil, one of Athens' primary exports. A crescent shape, possibly a waning moon is depicted on most issues. Athena's profile is depicted with an enigmatic smile, with a floral design on her helmet. New style tetradrachms were minted in the second century BCE. 

Athena Owl

Athena Owl Tetradrachm Coin