bring owls to Athens

Calque from Ancient Greek proverb γλαῦκ’ εἰς Ἀθήνας (glaûk’ eis Athḗnas). The owl, which roosted in the rafters of the old Parthenon (the one burnt by Xerxes I), was the symbol of the city of Athens, and was sacred to its patron goddess, Athena. It was featured on Athens’ silver coins, and as Athens both mined its own silver and minted its own coins, bringing owls (either the real birds, or the coins) to Athens would be pointless.

• "Euelpides: Who brings owls to Athens?"
• "Forgive me, then, for bringing owls to Athens as a thanks-offering."
• "Perhaps we have not been sufficiently aware that talking about access and its implications in Scandinavia is like bringing owls to Athens."

• carry coals to Newcastle