Owl figurine

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Inventory number

ΕΑΜ Χ 6506

Category

Bronzes

Period

Classical Period

Date

5th cent. BC

Dimensions

Height: 0.085 m

Material

Bronze

Location

First Floor Case 17, Νο 6

Description
Bibliography

Intact owl figurine (glauka). Its wings are naturalistically rendered with relief and wavy incised lines.

The owl was goddess Athena's sacred bird, a symbol of wisdom and prudence that related to the bird’s impressive nighttime vision. The owl was also believed to protect the army during war and augured victory when it flew above the warriors before battle. The Athenians minted the owl on their coins, the renown “glaukes”, in silver which was quarried at Laurion.

De Ridder, A., Bronzes Trouvés sur l' Acropole d'Athènes, Paris, 1896, σελ. 195, εικ. 173, αρ. κατ. 532
Blümel, C., Tierplastik: Bildwerke aus fünf Jahrtausenden, Berlin, 1939, σελ. 11, εικ. 76, αρ. κατ. 77
Fuchs, W., Floren, J., Die griechische Plastik, I: Die geometrische und archaische Plastik, München, 1987, σελ. 306
Kaltsas, N. (επιμ.), Athens-Sparta, Onassis Cultural Center, New York, December 6, 2006 - May 12, 2007, New York, 2006, σελ. 200, αρ. κατ. 94
Παντερμαλής, Δ., Ελευθεράτου, Σ., Βλασσοπούλου, Χ., Μουσείο Ακρόπολης. Οδηγός, Αθήνα, 2016, σελ. 162-163, εικ. 187