Genuine Greek Silver Coin Pendant depicting an Owl dear to Athena

• Handmade 100% Made in Italy • Genuine Greek Silver Coin 4th cent. BC • Bezel material: Sterling Silver 925
$1,502.00

In this sterling silver pendant is set an authentic Greek coin, minted by the Athens mint between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, which depicts the owl dear to Athena, with an olive branch and a crescent moon on the left. On the right, we can see the inscription AQE, the abbreviated Greek form to indicate the city of Athens. The eyes and beak of the owl follow the line of the letter φ (fi), the Greek alphabetic symbol of philosophy and later of the "golden section". The letter that therefore unites harmony, beauty and love for knowledge and research in a broad sense. In Greek mythology, a little owl (Athene noctua) traditionally represents or accompanies Athena, the virgin goddess of wisdom, or Minerva, her syncretic incarnation in Roman mythology. Because of such association, the bird – often referred to as the "owl of Athena" or the "owl of Minerva" – has been used as a symbol of knowledge, wisdom, perspicacity and erudition throughout the Western world. The inscription "ΑΘΕ" is an abbreviation of ΑΘΗΝΑΙΩΝ, which may be translated as "of the Athenians". In daily use the Athenian drachmas were called glaukes (γλαῦκες, owls). This silver coin was first issued in 479 BC in Athens after the Persians were defeated by the Greeks. All of our jewels are certified by a certificate of authenticity attesting their Greek or Roman origin!