Most Fowl: Athena, Ares, and Hermes Depicted as Birds on Engraved Gems

Abstract

Three previously unpublished gems are discussed, all representing deities in composite form, partly as birds. These are an intaglio depicting Athena as an owl, a cameo showing Ares as a cock, and another intaglio with the head of a composite Hermes-cock. The Hermes-cock figure appears on bronze tintinnabula of the first century that served as good luck charms.

Keywords

• cameo
• Athena
• Ares
• Hermes
• tintinnabulum
• phallus