“Birds with Human Souls”

    A delightful book called Birds with Human Souls, A Guide to Bird Symbolism (Beryl Rowland, 1978) was given me by a dear friend (Cindy! You!). Amongst many a wonder, it tells of ancient Athenian coins on which “a chubby, smiling goddess with a plain helmet appeared with a well-groomed, self-confident owl.”
    It mentions the great flock of owl coins produced from the Laureotic silver mines, and quotes the most charming depiction of financial prosperity I’ve ever read:

Little Laureotic owlets
Shall be always flocking in:
You shall find them all about you,
As the dainty brood increases,
Building nests within your purses;
Hatching little silver pieces.

              ~ Aristophanes, The Birds, c. 414 BC

May many dear little owlets roost with us all during the coming year...

Comments

[carisa]

My father used to collect coins and take me with him to the coin shows every year. As a treat, he would allow me to pick one coin to add to my own collection, which always ended up having animal or bird imagery. The barn owl coins from Greece were always my favorite, and whenever I see their tell-tale heart shaped faces, I'm reminded of him.

Thanks for sharing this!

Carisa

[Forest]

And thank you for sharing that memory, Carisa... I'm glad those words touch upon it!
My best to you,
Forest

[Process Modelling]

Feel very nice to watch....... thank you for sharing