Noctuas Athenas Ferre

To carry coals to Newcastle. Athens abounded with owls, and Minerva was therefore symbolised by an owl. To send owls to Athens would be wasteful and extravagant excess.

Related Content Allusions Foreign Words and Phrases Latin and Greek Word Elements Names: Their Origins and Meanings Old Testament Names Mythology Ancient Greek Literature & Mythology The Bible (King James version) The Koran (translation by J. M. Rodwell) Shakespeare's Plays Tales from Shakespeare (Charles and Mary Lamb) Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language