Ode to Athena Polias

The Athena Polias necklace design draws on the scene in Homer's Odyssey Book XIX in which Athena holds a golden lamp to light the way for Odysseus and Telemachus. At this pivotal turn in the plot of the Odyssey, the female divinity provides radiance and guidance to father and son as they seek to re-establish order in their home and city.

"Athena stood by them with a golden lamp; she made majestic light." Odyssey, Book XIX, lines 32-34, translation by Emily Wilson

Polias is an epithet for Athena, meaning "protector of the city and its inhabitants". The necklace set features an 11mm cast coin pendant with the head of Athena in profile. She is paired with a pink sapphire and a golden lantern charm. The pink sapphire represents a pomegranate, a deeply symbolic fruit in Greek culture. Athena is often shown holding a pomegranate in her hand or depicted on a coin with a pomegranate on the reverse side to evoke blessings of prosperity and divine protection. The golden lantern charm synthesizes the scene.