Ancient Greece - AR Tetradrachma - Athena and Owl - Circa 400 BCE - Mounted in 14K gold
$5,500
Denomination: AR Tetradrachma
Mint: Near East or Egypt
Date: Circa 440-400 BCE
Weight: 16.69 gm
Grade: NGC 8243612-133 XF – Strike 3/5 – Surface 3/5
Mount: 14K gold (12gm)
Description: AR Tetradrachm. Reverse: Head of Athena right, wearing a
triple crested Attica helmet. Obverse: Owl standing.
History: Athena was one of the most important goddesses in Greek mythology.
She sprang full-grown and armored from the forehead of the god Zeus and was
his favorite child. The Parthenon, in Athens, became hers because of her gift
of the olive tree to the Athenian people. A sprig of the tree appears on her
coin. Athena was primarily the goddess of the Greek cities, of industry and
the arts, and, in later mythology, of wisdom; she was also goddess of war,
a patron of the agricultural arts and of the crafts of women, especially
spinning and weaving, among her gifts to man were the inventions of the plow
and the flute. The arts of taming animals, building ships, and making shoes
are included in her attributes, and she was often associated with birds,
specifically the owl. She was a virgin goddess and is always represented
fully clothed, usually in armor and often holding a spear. The Tetradrachm
or drachma of Athens shows many of her attributes. On the obverse one sees
her head wearing a military helmet symbolizing her warrior aspect as protector
of the city. On the reverse is her sacred bird, the owl, symbolizing wisdom
and above, to the left, is an olive sprig symbolizing her agricultural duties.
Just behind the owl's back is a small crescent moon, supporting the idea that
she may have originated as a lunar goddess. In Athens, owls represented a
force of mystery, but one associated with good. In many ancient cultures,
owning or carrying a piece of an owl as a charm was thought to provide special
protection from evil spirits and health problems. Other ancient cultures believed
that energy, wisdom, and bravery might be imparted to the carrier of owl charms.
8243612-133
