#ATHENA SYMBOL ATHENA TATTOO MINIMALIST SKIN#

The birds were associated with Athena early on and often shown in archaic images of her. One of Athena’s common epithets was Glaukopis, or “Bright-Eyed,” which shares a root with the Greek word for owl. The animal was so closely associated with the goddess of wisdom that it is still used as a symbol of learning today. Many modern viewers are most familiar with the owl as Athena’s sacred animal.

This was in reference to the city’s founding myth, in which Athena gave the tree to the city to ensure its future prosperity.

In Athens, for example, she was often pictured with an olive tree or olive branches. This meant she was shown often in art, and with some regional variations. In Greek art, the goddess Athena had many recognizable symbols and attributes.Īthena was the patron goddess of the city of Athens so she was often depicted there, but she was overall one of the most popular goddesses throughout the Greek world. And these symbols of the goddess can give us clues about her pre-Greek origins. Throughout Greece, especially in Athens, the iconography of Athena was both widespread and distinctive.Īthena is still associated with owls, but she had many other distinctive symbols as well. Some of the most enduring and visible symbols of ancient Greek religion were associated with Athena. Others were so iconic that they are still used today to denote the same ideas the ancient gods stood for. Many of these symbols are known only to archaeologists and students of history.

#ATHENA SYMBOL ATHENA TATTOO MINIMALIST SKIN#

Some were obvious, like the lion skin worn by Heracles, while others were more subtle or less often used. In ancient art, gods and heroes were often identified through the inclusion of specific symbols.

Athena symbol athena tattoo minimalist