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NeptuneOrbit ,

Apparently “owls to Athens” is common across Europe? “Wood to the forest” is a variant in the US

bionicjoey ,

Is “Owls to Athens” a reference to Athena?

NeptuneOrbit ,

I don’t know. My coworker just said that owls are a symbol of wisdom, and Athens (historically) is the center of wisdom.

Norgur ,
@Norgur@fedia.io avatar

Yes and no. It's a circular relationship. The proverb is known to have already existed in Ancient Greece. The pantheon (the version that existed before Xerxes torched the place) was apparently inhabited by tons of owls, especially it's roof construction. Since the pantheon was a temple to Athena, people assumed Athena held Owls holy and the owl became linked to Athena, and since Athena was the goddess of wisdom, Owls became a symbol of wisdom. Since the city and her patron goddess are related by name, Athens is linked to owls as well.

But for the meaning: It's to be taken literally. There were many owls in Athens, so they'd not exactly need any more.

cygnus ,
@cygnus@lemmy.ca avatar

Originally it must be, but the animal itself became associated with the city too (for example their coinage almost always had an owl on it)

https://lemmy.ca/pictrs/image/c68ebe2b-ccaf-4256-a5ae-4ee405e9436a.jpeg

PostingInPublic ,

It is known in Germany, “Eulen nach Athen tragen”. I’ve heard the explanation that the currency of Athens in antiquity had owl on one side.

This one www.reppa.de/images/BilderE/eulen2.GIF

iawia ,

Carrying water to the sea is the Dutch version.

Xavienth ,

Seems like that should actually be quite a useful task in the Netherlands considering all the polders!

qevlarr ,
@qevlarr@lemmy.world avatar

Of course the Dutch version is about water

Zagorath ,
@Zagorath@aussie.zone avatar

Coals to Newcastle works well in Australia too. (I don’t think I’ve ever actually heard that in practice though.)

bestusername ,
@bestusername@aussie.zone avatar

Same, never heard it used here, and I can’t think of any other Australian equivalents.

Hegar ,
@Hegar@kbin.social avatar

Bauxite is the obvious one. How could you forget about bauxite?

AllNewTypeFace ,
@AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space avatar

Australia also has a Newcastle (in New South Wales, north of Sydney). Not sure if it has/had coal mines, though I wouldn’t be surprised if it did. Australians using the phrase may be referring to their Newcastle, and even unaware of the English one.

Zagorath ,
@Zagorath@aussie.zone avatar

Australia also has a Newcastle (in New South Wales, north of Sydney)

Yes, that’s why I mentioned it. When I said “works well in Australia”, what I meant was “in theory, the same logic you used to apply it to Newcastle-upon-Tyne could be used to apply it to Newcastle, NSW”, and not that it actually is used in Australia (I know I’ve never heard it).

Not sure if it has/had coal mines

Not just does it, but it is in fact home to Australia’s largest coal-shipping port. In fact, Port of Newcastle is, according to Wikipedia, the world’s largest coal terminal.

jordanlund ,
@jordanlund@lemmy.world avatar

Bring weed to Oregon.

KISSmyOSFeddit ,

Germany:

  • carry owls to Athens

Regional:

  • bring beer to Munich
  • carry peat to the bog
  • carry water to the Rhine
  • drive snails to Metz
LesserAbe ,

What does the phrase mean?

LarkinDePark ,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coals_to_Newcastle

case_when OP ,

It means to pointlessly take something to a place that already has it in abundance.

pavnilschanda ,
@pavnilschanda@lemmy.world avatar

I had to look it up and apparently it’s “mencurahkan garam ke laut” a.k.a. “bringing salt to the sea” (Indonesian)

Empricorn ,

Taking guns to America?

frightful_hobgoblin ,

When I first heard this phrase, Andy Cole was playing for Newcastle and it was very confusing to me wee mind… Cole’s to Newcastle what?

LaGG_3 ,
@LaGG_3@hexbear.net avatar

I think “selling ice to Eskimos” is the American equivalent. Naturally, the amerikkka version of this phrase: 1) involves an exonym that’s a bit offensive 2) kinda makes doing a pointless exercise sound like a good thing.

AlligatorBlizzard ,

Hexbear has some awesome emojis, lol. I haven’t seen the flag burning one yet.

lud ,

kinda makes doing a pointless exercise sound like a good thing.

Does it really?

To me it sounds like something that would be hard or impossible and stupid to even try. Kinda like taking coal to Newcastle is pretty stupid and you will lose money doing it.

Matticus ,

Ice to Eskimos in the eastern us. Yes, I know Eskimo isn’t preferred but that didn’t stop Nana.

cygnus , (edited )
@cygnus@lemmy.ca avatar

Same, or “he could sell igloos to eskimos” to describe an especially skilled salesman.

LesserAbe ,

Yeah, I’ve only ever heard it in the “he could sell…” formulation.

Nomecks ,

I’ve heard “It’s like selling ice to Eskimos”.

LesserAbe ,

Guess we’re getting pretty far from the “things to place” idea, but there’s always “preaching to the choir”

neidu2 ,

Bringing sand to Sahara

SexMachineStalin , (edited )
@SexMachineStalin@hexbear.net avatar

Bringing even more ukkkraine flags to :estonia-cool: especially in the last 2 years. The flags and colours are bloody everywhere and not one has been removed.

lud ,

What does Ukraine have to do with Estonia and why is it burning?

Or is your entire meaning just fucked up by your formatting?

maculata , (edited )

Genocidal behaviour to Israel.

Brutal authoritarianism and lies to China.

Crazy fucking shit to Russia.

Edit: To anyone downvoting me: we know who you work for. Scum.

frightful_hobgoblin ,

We would say ag tabhairt liúdar go Toraigh (carrying coalfish (pollachius virens) to Tory Island)

Or ag cuimilt saille/blonóige de thóin na muice méithe (rubbing lard on a fat pig’s arse)

frightful_hobgoblin ,

Ceann amháin eile: cloch go Conamara

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