red figure owl skyphos

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.

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.

The original drinking cup is in the museum of the Ancient Agora in Athens.

Many skyphoi of this kind were manufactured and painted in south Italy, in the many Greek colonies there, hence the name Magna Graecia ('Great Greece') given to that southernmost part of Italy. There are examples of owl skyphoi in museums all over the world.

The owl was the symbol of the Athena, goddess of intelligence, resourcefulness and strategy. She was also the protectress of the city of Athens, to which she gave her name and the gift of the olive tree.

On these skyphoi, the owl is shown perched amidst olive leaves. Because the owl is so frequently painted on ancient skyphoi, the shape of the skyphos has become known as a 'glaux' - the ancient Greek word for owl. In Homer, the Athena was often given the epithet 'glaukopis' - the 'owl-eyed' goddess.