Athenian Owl Silver Pendant

This silver pendant is modeled on the most famous of ancient coins: the Athenian Owl, which was the largest silver coin of its time. This is the coin that originated the custom of calling one side of a coin the “head” and the other the (animal’s) “tail” began. The coin was in circulation for over 400 years, with variations, but it always had Athena (goddess of wisdom and warfare) on the side opposite the owl, which was her patron animal. For the ornithologists among us, the owl has been identified as Athene Noctua, the Little Owl, which is found in the Mediterranean region and stands only six to eight inches tall, and weights between 2.5 and 4.5 ounces.

You can order a chain for this pendant in the shopping cart — our most popular chains appear there — and you can find more chain options here.

Note: Your handmade piece may vary slightly from the one pictured as no two are exactly alike.