About the Great Teacher Award Sculpture

An enlarged copy of the official Temple logo, a Greek coin from nearly 2,500 years ago, is cast in bronze as the focal point of the Great Teacher Award sculpture by Stanley Lechtzin. The black anodized aluminum column is composed of 9 Temple "T"s, supported by a gold anodized base.

The number 9 is very significant in many cultures. There are nine Greek Muses. Nine is a good luck number for the Chinese. Two times nine or 18 signifies life for Jews.

Ancient owl revived as logo

A Greek coin from nearly 2,500 years ago is the basis for a new Temple logo--the academic owl.

The coin, about the size of a nickel, depicts the owl on the reverse side of the silver tetradrachm that carries the profile of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. This was the most famous and widely used of all Greek coins. The olive spray and a waning moon were introduced in 490 B.C. or soon after and are believed to commemorate the battle of Marathon when Athenian soldiers defeated attacking Persians.

Three Greek letters, inscribed sideways on the coin, are alpha, theta and epsilon. This is the "Athe" in the word Athens. At Temple, the "Owl of Athens" coin was originally adopted as the symbol of the School of Business Administration. A large bas-relief of the coin is over the mall entrance to the lobby of Speakman Hall. It also has been used in School of Law publications.

Chancellor Peter J. Liacouras, former University President and dean of the law school, selected the new logo to use for University purposes. Susan E. Smith, a Tyler School of Art student, adapted the coin into a drawing. It is the only approved owl symbol besides the full-faced sports owl.

(From the Temple Times, 5/31/88)