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red figure aryballic lekythos with owl and olives
£65.00
An elegant vase inspired by many similar vases from Magna Graecia - the area in coastal south Italy where there were many Greek colonies from 8th BCE onwards (hence the name 'Great Greece'). The owl is flanked by two branches ofolive, both of which were associated with Athena, goddess of wisdom and resourcefulness, and patron of the city of Athens.
dimensions: Height: 17cm
quantity
about this pottery collection
This pottery collection is produced in Greece in the workshop of the Lioulias family, with whom It's All Greek is proud to have been working since 2004.
about the owl
Symbol of Athena, who was the goddess of wisdom, intelligence and resourcefulness. She was also the patron deity of Athens, the city to which she gave her name and the gift of the olive.
The owl was frequently depicted in the art and coinage of the city, especially from the 6th century BCE onwards.
about the olive
The olive was the symbol of Athena, patron goddess of the city of Athens, to whom she gave the olive as her gift. She planted the first one on the Akropolis. There is in fact an olive there today, next to the Erechtheion, the temple dedicated to Athena and her uncle Poseidon, who lost to his niece the contest to become guardian of the city.
When the Athenians returned to their city after its destruction by the Persians, the Akropolis olive tree already had a green shoot, symbolising the recovery and transformation of Athens and her citizens.
The olive appears on the famous Athenian owl coin, and is a recurrent motif in ancient Greek art, whenever Athena is depicted. Nike, the goddess of Victory, and closely associated with Athena, is often depicted with an olive wreath, which she would place on the head of a victorious athlete.
An olive wreath was the prize for Olympic victors, and Herakles' club was made from the wood of an olive tree.