Greek Owl Pendant

DESIGNER'S NOTES

This classic silver plated pendant features a version of an Athenian Owl against a sky blue background.

The Owl of Athena, emblem of wisdom and vigilance, originates in ancient Greek symbology, associated with Athena, goddess of strategy, craft, and intellect. Its depiction on silver tetradrachms during the 5th century BCE subtly reinforced Athenian civic identity and maritime power. The species most often represented is the little owl, Athene noctua, native to Greece, whose silent flight and acute nocturnal vision inspired metaphors of insight.

Beyond the city-state, owl motifs appeared on jewellery and funerary items, suggesting guardianship over knowledge and the soul. Some scholars propose the owl’s nocturnal habits aligned it with esoteric rites, bridging mortal perception and divine observation. Its image influenced Renaissance emblem books, carrying a legacy of erudition into modern iconography.

STYLING

The pendant is a few centimetres in diameter with a 450mm chain, so style outside high necklines, or against the skin with lower necklines. Wear with jewellery of similar scale, such as a simple silver bracelet.