Interesting! In Haida culture, it is the prey of the owl - the mouse - who, in the person of Mousewoman, is always present when a hero dies. George MacDonald, whom I believe to be one of the leading experts on west coast cultures, told me that, as far as he knew, Mousewoman was never depicted in art, with the single exception of the large sculpture called "The Spirit of Haida Gwaii" at the Canadian embassy in Washington. In it, she is a small, but very distinctive and recognizable figure. Harry "Solemnity is the shield of idiots" - Montesquieu, "Pensées et jugements" (1899) Harry Needham, M.A., CFE, etc. President Harry Needham Consulting Services Inc. Training & consulting services for heritage institutions - and others! 74 Abbeyhill Drive Kanata, Ontario K2L 1H1 Canada email: [log in to unmask] (Voice) +1.613.831-1068 (Fax) +1.613.831-9412 ----- Original Message ----- From: <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2000 5:10 AM Subject: Re: the owl (of Minerva) > Yes, but that's the Western Civ. tradition--I believe the owl was a > harbinger of death in certain Native American traditions. I personally have > an Eskimo print from the 70s, though, called "Owl Woman," in which the owl > looms behind a woman's head. > > Carolyn Breedlove > > -----Original Message----- > From: Harold Needham <[log in to unmask]> > To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2000 2:52 PM > Subject: Re: the owl (of Minerva) > > > >The owl is a beast associated with the possession of wisdom, hence its > >frequent use in heraldry to this end. In legend, the owl is associated with > >the Roman goddess Minerva, goddess of wisdom. The owl is also the emblem of > >Athens, where owls abound, according to Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and > >Fable, hence the owl is associated with the goddess Athena, the Athenian > >version of Minerva. > > > >The phrase you mention is actually used to describe hindsight. "The owl of > >Minerva spreads its wings only with the coming of dusk.", i.e., too late to > >be useful. I do not know the origin of the expression. > > > >Harry > > > >"Solemnity is the shield of idiots" > > > > - Montesquieu, "Pensées et jugements" (1899) > > > >Harry Needham, M.A., CFE, etc. > >President > >Harry Needham Consulting Services Inc. > >Training & consulting services for heritage institutions - and others! > >74 Abbeyhill Drive > >Kanata, Ontario K2L 1H1 > >Canada > >email: [log in to unmask] > >(Voice) +1.613.831-1068 > >(Fax) +1.613.831-9412 > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: deChadenedes, Marcia <[log in to unmask]> > >To: <[log in to unmask]> > >Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2000 10:20 AM > >Subject: the owl > > > > > >> A couple of years ago there was a discussion regarding some script over a > >> bar "the owl flies at dusk". I found it fascinating, can't recall the > >> details and would love to refer to it in context. Could someone please > >> refresh my memory -- the location, possible reference to a Greek goddess, > >> taken from a longer piece of prose? > >> Thanks very much. > >> > >> Marcia deChadenedes > >> > >> ========================================================= > >> Important Subscriber Information: > >> > >> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at > >http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed > >information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail > message > >to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read > "help" > >(without the quotes). > >> > >> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to > >[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff > >Museum-L" (without the quotes). > >> > > > >========================================================= > >Important Subscriber Information: > > > >The Museum-L FAQ file is located at > http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed > information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message > to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" > (without the quotes). > > > >If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to > [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff > Museum-L" (without the quotes). > > > > ========================================================= > Important Subscriber Information: > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). > ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).