The little owl is traditionally associated with the Greek goddess Athena and the city of Athens.
Ancient Greek coins often showed Athena accompanied by a small owl, and the bird became a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and vigilance. The Greek name glaux appears in the scientific name Athene noctua, linking the species directly with Athena.
The little owl is a small, compact owl native to much of Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. Unlike the larger eagle owl, it commonly hunts insects, earthworms, and small vertebrates in open farmland and rocky country.
The owl on ancient Athenian coins is not the barn owl or snowy owl. Artistic depictions vary, but the little owl is the species conventionally identified with Athena’s owl.