The Owl
The symbol of an owl is drawn from the arms of the Le Marchant family which includes three owls in argent. The family motto is “Me Minerva Lucet”. Minerva was an Etruscan goddess who very early on merged with the Greek goddess Athene. The Roman Minerva was especially the protectress of commerce and industry and later she assumed the character of a warrior goddess. The Etruscans represented the original Minerva with wings holding a screech-owl in her hand. The owl was also sacred to Athene.
