Oil lamp depicting an owl on a branch. The owl is strongly associated with the goddess of war, perspicacity, erudition, warfare and crafts - Athena. In literature, Athena quite often is referred to as glaukopis, which translates as bright-eyed or with gleaming eyes. The owl, as her frequent companion represents a symbol of incisiveness and wisdom, especially having in mind his night vision. In Roman times, Minerva, Athena’s Roman equivalent, embodies similar symbolism and attributes. Nevertheless, Romans considered owls to be funerary birds, due to their nocturnal activity and often having their nests in inaccessible places. As a result, the Romans considered seeing an owl in the daytime a bad omen.

Commercial copy