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Re: Owls to Athens
From: Will O´Neil
Date: 2001 Jul 09, 8:31 PM

At 05:45 PM 7/9/2001 -0700, Dan Allen wrote:
>Herbert Prinz wrote:
>
>>> Since George Huxtable has in the mean time outlined such
>>> an algorithm in great detail, I believe that any further
>>> explanation would amount to carrying owls to Athens.
>
>A classical allusion that eludes me... owls to Athens?

Athens was home to many owls. (I believe that pollution has largely driven 
them out in modern times.) The owl was accordingly the symbol of the city and 
sacred to Pallas Athene, the city's patroness. So carrying owls to Athens was 
set phrase denoting redundant action.

Will O'Neil

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