That same image, further back. Did the size deceive you?
Small but fierce, this is an adult Athena's Owl, (Athene noctoa), also known as "the little owl"
The Athenian Owl
This little owl was the favored bird of Athena, a Greek goddess associated with Philosophy and Wisdom. It was seen as a protector of Athens, featured on the city's coins dating back as 500 BCE.
For Rational Hedonists, the owl, who has the ability to navigate through the darkness, represents mental clarity and discerning truth in a world clouded by superstition, misinformation, coverups, censorship, and media spin.
Its ability to swivel its head around 270° represents the flexibility to listen to and consider different opinions yet the humbleness to challenge one's own beliefs and opinions in light of new evidence.
The owl is our reminder to remain alert and informed, to question rather than merely accept, and at times, have the courage to question and debate the status quo.
Athenian Owl Coins
These coins were first created around 490 BCE and circulated for hundreds of years. Democritus, Aristippus and Epicurus used these coins. Athena is featured on the front, with her owl, an olive sprig and small crescent moon on the back. The coins were actually called "owls".
Believe it ... Or Not
Now this symbol of the Hellenic Empire and Glory of Greece has been transplanted onto the American one dollar bill, hidden in plain sight.
There is a little owl tucked away on the U.S. dollar that mostly goes unnoticed. Others dismiss the little image as part of a background design element, and for a few, it's part of a conspiracy theory. Yet its presence subtly acknowledges ancient Greek connections with the goddess Athena's owl, a symbol of wisdom, foresight and knowledge.
Many of America's Founding Fathers were classically educated, familiar with Greek philosophy, and influenced by Enlightenment thought. Their vision for the new nation drew inspiration from ancient Greece, reflected in the Greek revival architecture, friezes and statues in Washington D.C. and rewrote the Constitution to reflect Greek ideals of liberty and justice.
Just as the owl remains hidden in plain sight, so too does Epicurus’ role as an unseen protector of American ideals. His philosophy, over 2,000 years old, was transplanted into the newly forming U.S., shaping a nation built on self-determination, personal liberty, and the right to pursue happiness—a stark contrast to the rigid structures of Aristotelian and Platonic societies.
*Yes, this is a bit tongue-in-cheek