This month's altar honours Athena, Greek Goddess of Wisdom. While she is indeed a fierce and heavily armoured warrior maiden, she is not a goddess of military force, but of tactics. Her purview is the use of strategy, cleverness and tricks to defeat an enemy. That's why her chosen soldier in the Trojan War was Ulysses (creator of the Trojan Horse ruse) and not a brutal fighter like Achilles.
I bought this statue about 15 years ago here in Edmonton. I like its dynamism and movement, especially as represented by Athena's Owl of Wisdom in mid-flight, about to land on her shoulder.
The Owl of Wisdom is one of Athena's main symbols and is represented in everything on this altar.
I found the classical art reproduction of Athena's Owl at a Winnipeg garage sale about 45 years ago. It's the first goddess statue I ever bought. The medallion on the Owl's body portrays Athena with her name written in Greek beside it. When I got this statue, it had lost its marble base but I had another one made for it and affixed about 20 years ago.
A woman who attended my Women's Drumming and Goddess Chanting Circle many years ago made and gifted to me the Owl Smudging Feather at the front of the altar. Born and raised in Mexico, she was a practising curandera (medicine woman) and artist. To honour our LGBTQ+ community, she used the Mexican folk art of thread wrapping to create a rainbow on the quill's end.
[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks 2024]
P.S. for Parnassus (Jim) --
It's the head of Medusa on Athena's shield. Here's a closeup for you, as requested!
All so beautiful and meaningful. You sure have taken good care of the feather.
ReplyDeleteHey! You have a full moon up there? We have one down here too! What are the odds?!
ReplyDeleteGreat stories; Athena chose brains over brawn, which is a better way to go.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the story of the feather. Very cool!
Hello Debra, That is a very dynamic statue, perfect for transmitting its meaning. I just looked for the moon, but I think it now rises in the afternoon--I'll have to check tomorrow a little earlier. By the way, that looks like a cool pattern of snakes on Athena's shield--can you show us a direct photo of it?
ReplyDelete--Jim
...the owl statue is beautiful, I should go to garage sales with you! Take care and have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDelete@ Parnassus (Jim) -- Post amended accordingly!
ReplyDeleteGreat altar this month. We will not see a full moon because of the forecast nor'easter, so I'll take Athena's word for it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra, that shield is really cool--there is so much detail in your statue! The Shield reminds me of Joe Keenan's quip about a mean woman who wore a wig "because snakes won't hold a wave."
ReplyDelete--Jim
A nice combination. Thanks for the items and the backstory about each.
ReplyDeleteThat Athena statue is a beauty. Love it.
ReplyDeleteDoes she work on husbands? Asking for a friend.
ReplyDeleteAnother beautiful altar! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI think Athena is lowkey my fav goddess.
ReplyDeleteReally.
And I'm loving this statue! Now I want one.
XOXO
I believe a Greek city was named after her.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite Goddess in mythology....and nice touch with the owl too!
ReplyDeleteReally interesting to read about owl of wisdom.
ReplyDeleteyou have the coolest altars. that statue is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love the statue of Athena. She’s so alive!
ReplyDeleteAnd Medusa. You can see the vestiges of her famed beauty still. Even after being cursed.
Love the alter.
Love those statures. Haven't been able to find a statue of Athena that I really like.
ReplyDeleteInteresting altar -- owls have been associated with wisdom for a very long time, eh? I really like the classical art repro of Athena's Owl too -- that must have been some garage sale!
ReplyDeleteGreat array of snakes in the shield.
ReplyDeleteYes, I like the meaningful post too. The mystic is always fascinating.
ReplyDeleteGreetings by Heidrun
Beautiful statue with so much meaning. I had to research the Women's Drumming and Goddess Chanting Circle to understand what that was. You are such a complex person. Enjoy reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteThat shield is amazing. I am transfixed.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how owls get their reputations for being wise. Apparently they are fairly dumb birds -- their giant eyes take so much space in their skulls that there is not much room left for brain.
Strange how we age, wisdom comes.
ReplyDeleteI always have respect for Athena. To tell you the truth, sometimes I find her intimidating and scary. I am just a mortal, and she is Athena.That Owl that accompanies her is also mysterious and formidable. She is always welcome. My house is her house.
ReplyDeleteBut most days I go to hang out with Hephaistios at the Smithy, with his anvils and his club-foot.
I was taught that she is the wisest of all the Gods, but sometimes, with wisdom comes cruelty. Anyway, this is a good Altar. Thank you.
Also, about that Owl, that rides on Athena shoulder, we keep a special supply of Dried Mice, just ready to be rehydrated..., just in case. It would be the least that we can do.
ReplyDeletei can say at once that Athena ,s statue is my most favorite one until now among all you shared because of how magnificently it is crafted .
ReplyDeleteit has beauty and power to captivate the senses at first look dear Debra and i fell love with this lady and that owl oh my god he is awesome and really inspiring !
i am so happy to see both exceptional statues and read about them .
big thanks for the last close up ,no words to praise how amazing it is !
hugs and blessings
Just want to let you know this old guy is getting tired. Leon and I have been dealing with health issues - his heart procedure and the after care (which was not supposed to involve hours and hours in the emergency room or be difficult at all) and my endless aches and pains and trying to keep up with the activities of daily life...so I've not been following blogs - or writing in my own blog - of late (the older I get, the less I have to say about anything). As a matter of fact, I believe that will continue for the foreseeable future and beyond. I just want you to know I may check in now and then without leaving a comment. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteHi Frank -- Sorry to hear that health issues make blogging unfeasible for you, but it's understandable. I'll miss reading your blog and your comments, but I wish you and Leon all the best in the future. Thanks for all our enjoyable interaction as blogging buddies over the years.
ReplyDeleteHusband likes to play the sort of computer games that take weeks and involve ruling the world or something. He likes his new one because it allows him to use cunning and stealth rather than shooting, which he's too slow at. So Athena would be the woman for him. (Did Athena used to make posters?)
ReplyDeleteWonderful full moon altar, Debra. I love all the elements. That Owl from a garage sale was quite a find. Hey, I have an owl feather on my altar as well!
ReplyDeleteHey Liz Hinds, can I borrow your husband for just a couple days? Return Postage guaranteed.
ReplyDeleteThe Owl of Wisdom is exceptionally beautiful. Good find at a garage sale! I'm happy to see it on a fine new base.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite goddess. Also what a great statue! Going to blog about Greek mythology myself tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteCool statue!
ReplyDeleteOMG. Those are so cool. I love the sheild the most. I just wanna get in there with my macro lens and take pictures of it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Athena :)
ReplyDeleteDo you know "Overly Sarcastic Productions" on YouTube? she does some splendid renditions on all things Athena.
ReplyDeleteWe had a girl work at Lowe's with me named Athena and people kept calling her the goddess of love because she was kind of attractive. But the nerd in me was like it's wisdom
ReplyDelete