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
> >>
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