Work in Progress: Athene

I started a new mixed media piece today, featuring the Greek goddess Athene (or Athena), who was the goddess of wisdom as well as war. An owl was one of her attributes. Interestingly, she is called "Bright Eyed" or "With Gleaming Eyes", so I want to make her eyes really the focal point on this artwork, as well as her companion owl's eyes. See comments from Wikipedia below:

"Athena's epithets include Άτρυτώνη, Atrytone (= the unwearying), Παρθένος, Parthénos (= virgin), and Ή Πρόμαχος, Promachos (the First Fighter, i.e. she who fights in front). 

In poetry from Homer, an oral tradition of the eighth or seventh century BC, onward, Athena's most common epithet is glaukopis (γλαυκώπις), which usually is translated as, bright-eyed or with gleaming eyes. The word is a combination ofglaukos (γλαύκος, meaning gleaming, silvery, and later, bluish-green or gray) and ops (ώψ, eye, or sometimes, face). It is interesting to note that glaux (γλαύξ, "owl") is from the same root, presumably because of the bird's own distinctive eyes. The bird which sees well in the night is closely associated with the goddess of wisdom: in archaic images, Athena is frequently depicted with an owl named the Glaucus (or "owl of Athena" and later under the Roman Empire, "owl of Minerva") perched on her hand. This pairing evolved in tangent so that even in present day the owl is upheld as a symbol of perspicacity and erudition.

Unsurprisingly, the owl became a sort of Athenian mascot. The olive tree is likewise sacred to her. In earlier times, Athena may well have been a bird goddess...."

Some photos from today:

Work in Progress: Athene
18 x 24 inches
Mixed Media on Wood Panel
www.lynnetteshelley.com