Athenian Coins (512 BCE on)

For translation methodology see: How to Translate Alphabetic Akkadian Texts

This is the first type of Athenian owl coin and possibly the earliest. It has the letter teth (Greek theta) between the A and E to spell the name "Athe." This style of coin was only minted in Athens around 510-500/490 BCE and is called the Tetradrachm (22mm, 17.16 g). Yet the more popular style of coin shown below would have ayin as the central letter. Photo online at: https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=6823&lot=106

Top image shows the oldest coins style while the bottom image shows the later style. The later style has smaller edges and adds a crescent moon to the back of the owl. While the owl represented the Druid motion power class the crescent moon represented life power class via its crescent moon goddess Ayu.
Photos from NG coins at: https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/2245/Ancients-Owls-Through-the-Years---A-Look-at-the-Evolution-of-Athenian-Tetradrachms/

Bottom photo shows the owl at the Acropolis museum in Athens (Olmsted photo 2019)

Owls As Motion-Power Spirits Representing the Powers of Thu (Athena)

(July 3, 2022, Updated March 10, 2025) This is one of the most popular ancient coins and it comes in 2 varieties. One style translates in Akkadian as "Those having Thu-power" while the other and ultimately more popular style translates as "Emotion-powers" or "Awen." The first style was more nationalist while the second style was more international. Thu was the Druid deity of emotions.

Translation of First Style In Akkadian

(read top to bottom. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs in italic bold. Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words)
Chart Used: Aegean Lineage, Letter style is Aegean

AṬE

where the /E/ ending when applied to deities means their power is meant. While such full on Akkadian grammar is not normally seen in runic texts it was used here.

These earliest coins were characterized by their thick planchets (edges). These coins were introduced by the Athenian king Hippias and supported by a seemingly limitless supply of silver from the newly discovered silver mines at nearby Laurium. Notice the olive branch behind the owl which was the source of Athens' prosperity prior to its silver mine.

Translation of Second Style In Akkadian

(read top to bottom. Capital letters on stone. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs in italic bold. Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words)
Chart Used: Aegean Lineage, Letter style is Aegean

or "E" is being grammatical indicting the power is meant.

The other side of the coin shows a goddess usually interpreted as the the goddess Athena but this is really an image of the Druid hermaphrodite deity Thu who represents emotions and emotional-energy. The owl is the divine bird of the motion power class coming in 2 varieties, one representing the emotional motion source powers while the other represents the astrological motion source powers.

References

Michael Beall (July 23, 2020) Being Wise About Owls: The Athenian Owl Tetradrachm. in Coin Week. Online at: https://coinweek.com/being-wise-about-owls-the-athenian-owl-tetradrachm/

(September 15, 2024) Close-up of the hermaphrodite deity Thu on the Etruscan tomb of Orcus (490 BCE) which was also made during the drought years. Notice the similarities of hair style with the goddess Athena on the coins. Athena also had male characteristics as she was often shown wearing armor.

The right label reads (right to left):

The Controllers (Su, Selu) cause emotional-affects. : The openings (of rain through the sky-shell) are not being influenced by those.

The left label reads (right to left):

Energy elevates ....

Reference: Calf-Bearer Text is an Important Linguistic Reference For Translating These Athenian Owl Coins

(September 15, 2024) Letter assignments added by Olmsted. The text style is a mix of Etruscan and Aegean. It shows that both the letter signs representing ' (Ayin) and Ṭ (Teth/Theta) were in use in Athens between 512 and 480 BCE.

The body of this statue was found on the Athen’s acropolis in 1864. Its base with the feet was found later in the same general area in 1887. Consequently, they are assumed to go together. Its style is the Kouros style popular before the golden age of Athens between 480 - 404 BCE. It is now located in the Acropolis Museum in Athens at https://theacropolismuseum.gr/en/male-statue-its-base-calf-bearer

Calf-Bearer Text From the Pre-Parthenon Acropolis of Athens (480 BCE)

(Jan 28, 2023, Updated December 18, 2024) In September 480 BCE the Persian army led by king Xerxes I burned Athens and destroyed the old Acropolis. This destruction was one component of the Greek - Persian War which began in 492 BC as the culmination of the civil strife caused by the drought of 499 and the resulting Ionian revolt. The war lasted until 449 BC. This statue existed on the old acropolis as it existed prior to the building of the Parthenon. It indicates that some divine power was blocking the fertility-fluids which triggers the release of rain and spring water (emanations), and the creation of life forms. The mentioned "boundary" is the sky-shell and the middle layer of the Ancient Pagan Paradigm. This text also mentions the astrological owls which add motion powers (fluid flow) to the fertility-fluids.

In terms of linguistics this is also an important text because it demonstrates that the letter Ṭ (teth, theta) was different from the letter ' (ayin) at this time and place.

Translation in Akkadian (Med Text 6.1)

(read right to left. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs in italic bold. Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words)
Chart Used: Aegean Lineage, Letter style is a mix of Etruscan and Aegean.

[1]Mu Ba'u ZiPu Mu. EṬu EKu EMu | Ḫu'u [2]W Le'u

In English

[word] is nesting the casting of fertility-fluids. The boundary (sky-shell) is supervising the starvation. | Astrological-owls [1 or 2 words] the layout.