bring owls to Athens: Idiom Meaning and Origin

The idiom "bring owls to Athens" is an expression with its roots in Greek mythology. In ancient Greece, Athens was known as the city of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and the patron goddess of Athens. As the city was already abundant in owls, which were considered the sacred symbols of Athena, the expression "bring owls to Athens" was used to denote a pointless or unnecessary action.

The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the historical accounts of Athenaeus, a Greek rhetorician and grammarian who lived in the 2nd century AD. In his work, "Deipnosophistae," he recounts a story which serves as the earliest known usage of the idiom. According to Athenaeus, when someone asked why he brought another man to Athens, the person responded by saying, "To bring owls to Athens." This highlights the idea that bringing something already abundant to its place of origin is an act devoid of purpose or value.

Over time, the idiom "bring owls to Athens" has become a popular expression in English, conveying the notion of redundancy or superfluity. It is often used to describe situations where something is being brought or done unnecessarily or with little benefit. For example, if someone were to say, "Selling ice cream on a hot summer day is like bringing owls to Athens," they would be emphasizing the pointlessness of the action.

The idiom "put the cat among the pigeons" is another English expression that shares a similar meaning to "bring owls to Athens." It refers to creating a disruptive or chaotic situation by introducing something unexpected or controversial. Just as bringing owls to Athens is considered unnecessary, putting a cat among pigeons serves no constructive purpose and only serves to cause trouble.

The idiom "bring on" is also related to "bring owls to Athens" in that both expressions suggest the unnecessary introduction of something. "Bring on" is commonly used to indicate a desire to experience or encounter something, often with the implication that such an action is unnecessary or ill-advised. In the context of "bring owls to Athens," it can be seen as a warning against inviting or welcoming something that is already abundantly present.

Similarly, the idiom "bring a knife to a gunfight" can be linked to the concept of bringing owls to Athens. Just as bringing owls to a city already known for its owl population is redundant, bringing a knife to a gunfight is an act of folly. It implies that the action or item being brought is inadequate and ill-suited for the situation at hand.

The idiom "carry coals to Newcastle" is yet another expression that conveys a similar message as "bring owls to Athens." It originates from a historical context in which Newcastle upon Tyne in England was renowned for its coal production. Bringing coals to Newcastle, therefore, would be an unnecessary and futile task. The idiom serves as a reminder that certain actions or items are already abundant or readily available in a particular place, rendering any additional efforts redundant.

Lastly, the idiom "bring together" can be contrasted with "bring owls to Athens." While "bring owls to Athens" emphasizes the unnecessary nature of bringing something already present, "bring together" underscores the constructive and valuable act of uniting or assembling. By using this idiom in conjunction with "bring owls to Athens," one can highlight the dichotomy between pointless actions and meaningful ones.

The idiom "bring owls to Athens" has withstood the test of time and continues to be used as a metaphorical representation of futility. Despite variations in its usage and popularity across English-speaking communities, the idiom's core meaning remains intact. It serves as a reminder of the richness and depth of idiomatic expressions and their ability to convey complex ideas in a concise and metaphorical manner.