The owl causes fascination at us. It is respected and admired. It is a symbol for all the good. Therefore the owl in myths, folk-beliefs, and symbolism of all nations and over all time epochs was depicted in many interesting, contradictory and even superstitious pictures.

Owls differ from other birds by firmly forward arranged eyes. As they can – like we humans – move eyelids upwards and downwards over the eyeballs, its face appear to us very human. That is why the owl fascinates us so much. As it is very similar to us, we attribute to her a part of our own intelligence and therewith also the wisdom. That is why the owl often is represented as a symbol of wisdom with doctor’s hat and robe or also sitting on the books. Many schools, universities, libraries, bookshops and book publishing houses have chosen the owl as emblem. Also the phrase “wise like an owl” has its origin for here.

We can find descriptions of the owl already in times of Aristoteles, the first scientific paper in times of Plinius. In Greece the owl was very respected and was considered as a wisdom bird that was selected by the goddess Athene, the defender of Athens and goddess of the wisdom. On the Greek coins the head of the Athene was shown on the obverse. As a coat of arms bird the owl with branch of olive and the moon decorated the back of tetradrachma. Therefore the coins were called bfiefly “owl”. Since Athens was very rich and a multiplicity of these "owls" was present there, also today “to carry owls to Athens” means to do something unreasonable. The owl was also defender and accompanied armies into the war. Besides the owl in Greece symbolized also science and steadyness.

Hindu, Japanese and Indian cultures connected the owl with creation of the world. In folk-beliefs of other cultures it was responsible for luck and misfortune of different kind, also with weather changes and births of a human.

Owls were also roasted or cooked and served in such a way as a component of various philtres or for the production of cures. As medicine relief from different complaints, above all a stabilization of the sight was attributed to them. Owl eggs on the contrary should heal from heavy drinking!!!