ATTICA - ATHENS 136 - 135 - Lot 18

ATTICA - ATHENS 136 - 135 Head of Athena Parthenos on the right, wearing a helmet with aigrettes decorated with a fleuron, a pegasus and a quadriga. R/. Owl on an amphora. On either side, AΘE/ HPA/ APIΣTOΦ/ APXE. On the left, lion-skin-covered club and bow in its quiver. On amphora, letter I. Laurel wreath and below, EΛ. ♦ Thompson 340; cf S 2555 "New style" silver tetradrachm. (16,28 g) T.B./Very fine. The owl accompanies Athena, goddess of Wisdom. These birds were even used to motivate the Athenians in battles against other Greek cities, as in the victorious battle of Agathocles of Syracuse against the Carthaginians in 310 BC, or in the battle of Salamis, as recorded by Plutarch in his biography of Themistocles.