Amazon Quiz (July 24): This bird was the sacred animal of which Greek goddess?
Athena
Aphrodite
Hera
Athena
Answer: Athena
A small owl (Athene noctua) in Greek mythology generally represents or follows Athena, the virgin goddess of wisdom, or Minerva, her syncretic incarnation in Roman mythology. Because of this association, the bird—often referred to as the “owl of Athena” or the “owl of Minerva”—has been used throughout the Western world as a symbol of knowledge, intelligence, perspicacity, and erudition.
The reasons for Athena’s relationship with the owl are unknown. Some mythographers, such as David Kinsley and Martin P. Nilsson, believe she is descended from a Minoan palace goddess linked with birds, whereas Marija Gimbutas believes she is descended from an Old European bird and serpent goddess.
Cynthia Berger, on the other hand, theorises about the appeal of some owl characteristics, such as their ability to see in the dark, to be used as a symbol of wisdom, whereas others, such as William Geoffrey Arnott, propose a simple association between Athens’ founding myths and the region’s significant number of little owls (a fact noted since antiquity by Aristophanes in The Birds and Lysistrata).
In any event, the owl appears to have been chosen as a symbol of fealty to its patron virgin goddess, who, according to a famous etiological narrative repeated on the West pediment of the Parthenon, earned the affection of her residents by bestowing a more attractive gift than Poseidon.
Also read: Amazon Quiz: Which famous city is shown here?
Also read: Amazon Quiz: The Reserve Bank Innovation hub was recently inaugurated in which city?
