Drachma with Athena and owl
Replica Greek coin
A goddess Athena and an owl adorn the coin replica of an ancient drachm with antique patina. The ancient drachma coin was a unit of weight and coinage made of silver. It was rarely made of copper or gold. It was widespread throughout the Hellenic cultural area and was minted by many cities. The first coins show images of animals. These were mostly coats of arms of the cities and date back to the 6th century BC.
- Coin diameter: approx. 2 cm
- Coin replica made of pewter with antique patina
Greek silver coin replica: Drachma with Athena and owl
The ancient goddess Athena was the female deity of wisdom, strategy and battle, art, craftsmanship and manual labor as well as the patron goddess and namesake of the Greek capital Athens. Her equivalent is the Roman goddess Minerva.
Her sanctuary in Athens was the Parthenon - the temple for the city goddess Pallas Athena Parthenos on the Athenian Acropolis. Several statues of Athena by the sculptor Phidias stood on the Acropolis. The largest statue embodied Athena Promachos (the "Athena fighting ahead") in full armor.
Ancient coin replica: Carrying owls to Athens!
An owl is depicted on the reverse of the ancient Greek coin replica. Reminiscent of "Carrying owls to Athens"? This saying can be used to lighten up the history lesson a little, including the haptic experience of the ancient coin and the stories about the country with ancient history: the saying "carrying owls to Athens" refers to a superfluous activity. It goes back to the ancient Greek poet Aristophanes, who coined this saying in his satirical comedy "The Birds" around 400 BC. There, a flying owl is commented on with the words, "Who brought the owl to Athens?".
Coin replica bears the owl on current European policy ...
There were many owls at that time as a symbol of the patron goddess of the city of Athena - hence the combination of the two images on one coin. The owl symbolized wisdom (as did Athena), as it can see in the dark. One possibility would therefore be to interpret the words as a reference to the nonsensical activity of bringing wisdom to the city. It is more likely that he was referring to the coins on which the owl was depicted - as on this one! Athens was a wealthy city at the time and Aristophanes probably considered it superfluous to send silver coins to the wealthy city of Athens. He later writes: "... there will never be a shortage of owls." A debate with the pupils about European policy and the pros and cons of a single currency should be on the cards here!
Lovers of antiquity: Coin with owl and Athena
Of course, the wonderful symbolic coin of the replica of a Greek drachma is also a real must-have for every friend of Hellenistic culture! As a gift to yourself or a loved one, the extraordinary replica is a treasure!
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