THE OWL IN MYTHOLOGY

"Throughout history and across many cultures, people have regarded Owls with fascination and awe. Few other creatures have so many different and contradictory beliefs about them. Owls have been both feared and venerated, despised and admired, considered wise and foolish, and associated with witchcraft and medicine, the weather, birth and death. Speculation about Owls began in earliest folklore, too long ago to date, but passed down by word of mouth over generations"                  Owl Pages by Deane Lewis    www.owlpages.com

Colors and Mythological Context: 

Grey/Brown (Greek/Roman): The Little Owl (Athene noctua), sacred to Athena, is greyish-brown, representing wisdom, strategy, and the "grey-eyed" goddess. 

White (Celtic/Northern): White owls often represent the Cailleach (hag goddess) or the transformed Blodeuwedd, signaling death, twilight, or magic.  Snowy owls symbolize change and spirituality. 

Speckled/Dark Brown (Native American/Other): Great Horned Owls are associated with the underworld or souls of the dead.   Burrowing owls in Zuni legend acquired speckled plumage from white foam, symbolizing laughter or transformation. 

"Grey in Grey" (Philosophy): The Owl of Minerva is used metaphorically for wisdom that comes at the end of the day (twilight).  

Symbolism:

• Wisdom & Knowledge: Due to their intense, unmoving stare and quiet nocturnal nature.
• Death & Premonition: Associated with the unknown, darkness, and bad luck in many cultures.
• Transformation & Mystery: Viewed as messengers between the mortal and spiritual worlds.                     As generated by AI.