Buccellati. Eagle brooch in white and yellow gold with pearl, white and brown diamonds and ruby eyes © Buccellati 2015

 The eagle is the creature that arms Zeus with the thunderbolts that this head divinity hurls against his enemies. Only the eagle’s piercing gaze is able to challenge the sunlight. Imposing and imperial, it represents strength, freedom, independence. For Native Americans, because of its ability to see further and fly higher than any other animal, the eagle is the only one being able to put humans in communication with the Great Spirit.