Heterodoxos, Web Site Mascot
Athena's Owl
 
Athenian Silver Tetradrachm
(circa 449-410 BCE)
Obverse: Profile of Athena
Reverse: Athena's Owl
Please note: Coin images are
modified from similar images
© 2002 by the
University of Pennsylvania
Museum of Archaeology
and Anthropology
and are used with permission
under terms of fair use.
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Why have an Official Web Site Mascot?
I thought that it would be interesting and useful to have a graphical symbol to represent my web site. He certainly adds something to the banner GIF on my index page and the headers on the other pages. The link-back buttons on the Connections page would be inadequate without him. Anyway, I think it's a rather cutesy touch.
Why choose an owl?
I've always liked owls. They're the most mysterious and alluring of all the birds. Owls fly silently through the night and hunt successfully in darkness; the only warning an owl's prey gets is its flesh being pierced by talons. This uncanny nocturnal ability makes the owl a symbol of wisdom, having the ability to see through the metaphorical darkness of ignorance. Also, the owl is the bird of Athena, my favorite Olympian since I first learned Greek mythology. I always have admired Athena both as the goddess of wisdom, the personification of education and enlightenment, and as the goddess of war, the personification of the rational and intellectual aspect of warfare. In addition to matching my web site's general theme, I chose my former GeoCities address (Athens/Parthenon/6995) because Athena is the patron goddess of Athens, my favorite of the ancient Greek city-states, and the Parthenon is the Athenian temple dedicated to her.
Why does he look so familiar?
I based the design for Heterodoxos on the image of Athena's owl on the reverse of the Athenian silver tetradrachm from the last half of the 5th century BCE. This coin, minted during the Golden Age of Athens, is probably the most famous and well-known of the ancient world. Various versions of this owl often are used emblematically for educational institutions and scholarly organizations which partially accounts for my mascot's familiarity.
Why call him Heterodoxos?
I named my mascot Heterodoxos because a Greek-inspired bird deserves an appropriate Greek name. Heterodoxos is the Greek root for "heterodox" which means "contrary to or different from an acknowledged standard or traditional form: UNORTHODOX, UNCONVENTIONAL" or "holding unorthodox opinions or doctrines." I and consequently my web site are certainly heterodox. Who ever heard of an economic and social conservative, Republican, Teamsters union member, moral traditionalist, pro-life, U.S. Army veteran, NRA Benefactor Life Member, Secular Humanist atheist!?
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