Minerva
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the Roman goddess. For other uses, see Minerva
(disambiguation).
Minerva
Goddess of poetry, medicine, commerce, weaving, the crafts, and wisdom
Member of the Capitoline Triad and the Dii Consentes
Fresco of Minerva from Herculaneum (1st century AD)
Symbols Owl of Minerva, olive tree, serpent of Jupiter, the Parthenon, the
spear, the spindle, and Hellebore
Gender Female
Parents Jupiter
Metis
Equivalents
Etruscan Menrva
Greek Athena
Religion in
ancient Rome
Marcus Aurelius sacrificing
Marcus Aurelius (head covered)
sacrificing at the Temple of Jupiter
Practices and beliefs
libation
votum
temples
festivals
ludi
funerary practices
cult (imperial)
mystery religions
Priesthoods
Pontifices
Augures
Vestales
Flamines
Fetiales
Epulones
Fratres Arvales
Deities
Dii Consentes
Capitoline Triad
Aventine Triad
Indigitamenta
underworld gods
agricultural gods
childhood gods
divine emperors
Related topics
Glossary of ancient Roman religion
Roman mythology
Ancient Greek religion
Etruscan religion
Gallo-Roman religion
Interpretatio Graeca
Decline
vte
Mosaic of the Minerva of Peace in the Library of Congress
Minerva (/mɪˈnɜːrvə/; Latin: [mɪˈnɛru̯ä]; Etruscan: Menrva) is the Roman goddess of
wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. She is
also a goddess of warfare, though with a focus on strategic warfare, rather than
the violence of gods such as Mars.[1] Beginning in the second century BC, the
Romans equated her with the Greek goddess Athena.[2] Minerva is one of the three
Roman deities in the Capitoline Triad, along with Jupiter and Juno.
Minerva is a virgin goddess. Her domain includes music, poetry, medicine, wisdom,
commerce, weaving, and the crafts.[3] Minerva is often depicted with her sacred
creature, an owl usually named the "owl of Minerva"[4] which symbolised her
association with wisdom and knowledge, as well as, less frequently, the snake and
the olive tree. Minerva is commonly depicted as tall with an athletic and muscular
build. She is often wearing armour and carrying a spear. As an important Roman
goddess, she is highly revered, honored, and respected.[5] Marcus Terentius Varro
considered her to be ideal and the plan for the universe personified.[6]
Etymology
The name Minerva stems from Proto-Italic *meneswo ("intelligent, understanding"),
and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (PIE) *menos ("thought"). Helmut Rix (1981)
and Gerhard Meiser (1998) have proposed the PIE derivative *menes-ueh₂ ("provided
with a mind, intelligent") as the transitional form.[7]
Origin
The myth of Minerva's birth follows that of Athena. Jupiter raped the titaness
Metis, which resulted in her attempting to change shape (or shapeshift) to escape
him. Jupiter then recalled the prophecy that his own child would overthrow him,
just as he himself had overthrown his father Saturn, and in turn, Saturn had
overthrown his father Caelus. Fearing that their child would be male, and would
grow stronger than he was and rule the Heavens in his place, Jupiter swallowed
Metis whole after tricking her into turning herself into a fly. The Titaness gave
birth to Minerva and forged weapons and armour for her child while within Jupiter's
body. The constant pounding and ringing left Jupiter with agonizing pain. To
relieve the pain, Vulcan used a hammer to split Jupiter's head and, from the cleft,
Minerva emerged, as a grown adult and in full battle armour.
Presence in mythology
Minerva is a prominent figure in Roman mythology. She appears in many famous myths.
Many of the stories of her Greek counterpart Athena are attributed to Minerva in
Roman mythology, such as that of the naming of Athens[8] resulting from a
competition between Minerva and Neptune,[9] in which Minerva created the olive
tree.[1]
Minerva and Arachne
Arachne was a mortal highly proficient in weaving and embroidery. Not only were her
finished works beautiful, but also her process, so much so that nymphs would come
out of their natural environments to watch her work. Arachne boasted that her
skills could beat those of Minerva, and if she were wrong she would pay the price
for it. This angered Minerva, and she took the form of an old woman to approach
Arachne, offering her a chance to take back her challenge and ask forgiveness.[9]
When Arachne refused, Minerva rid herself of her disguise and took Arachne up on
her challenge. Arachne began to weave a tapestry that showed the shortcomings of
the gods, while Minerva depicted her competition with Neptune and the gods looking
down with disgust on mortals who would dare to challenge them.[9] Minerva's weaving
was meant as a final warning to her foe to back down. Minerva was insulted by the
scenes that Arachne was weaving, and destroyed it. She then touched Arachne on the
forehead, which made her feel shame for what she had done, leading her to hang
herself. Minerva then felt bad for the woman, and brought her back to life.
However, Minerva transformed her into a spider as punishment for her actions, and
hanging from a web would forever be a reminder to Arachne of her actions that
offended the gods. This story also acted as a warning to mortals not to challenge
the gods.[1]
Minerva and Medusa
Medusa was once a beautiful human girl with magnificent hair, she was also a
priestess of Minerva. Neptune was obsessed with her and lusted after her. One day
Neptune was watching her pray in the Temple of Minerva and decided to act upon his
lustful obsession. He forced himself on Medusa but she was not strong enough to
fight him off. Minerva was furious this took place in her temple and she turned
Medusa into a monster, replacing her hair with hissing snakes and removing her
charm. Medusa turned any living creature she looked upon into stone. Neptune was
not ever confronted for his wrongdoings to Medusa. When Perseus approached Medusa
he used her reflection in his shield to avoid contact with her eyes, and then
beheaded her. Medusa’s spilt blood gave birth to Pegasus; which Minerva immediately
tamed and gifted to Bellerophon.[8] He delivered the severed head to Minerva, who
placed its image on her Aegis.[1]
Taming of Pegasus
