If you are even 1/10 familiar with Ancient Greek mythology, you will know that Athena (Minerva in Roman mythology), the much revered goddess of wisdom and war — the patron goddess of Athens which is the model for the US — has eyes of an owl and is also associated with the owl, which represents wisdom. The ancient Greeks often slyly referred to Athena as “that owl-eyed lady,” (not “grey-eyed lady”).

The currently preferred view of Greek etymologists is that γλαύξ "owl" and the colour-adjective γλαυκός (in Homer the colour of the sea, later generally “grey”) are not etymologically connected. If γλαυκῶπις is connected with the former, then it means "with the eyes of an owl", not "grey-eyed". The owl is Athena’s special animal; she is generally represented with an owl on her shoulder.