Minerva Roman Goddess

Minerva is the Roman Goddess of wisdom, war, arts and commerce. She was worshiped with devotion by Romans, Italians and Greeks and her sculptures were raised throughout these places. Read on...

The ancient Romans believed and had faith on numerous Gods and Goddesses. Amongst all the deities, Minerva was renowned for her wisdom, artistry and bravery. She was also known by other names like Menrva, Menfra, Mera and Merva.

Ancient folk lore says that she was of Etruscan origin while the Greeks associated her appearance with Athena, who was the goddess of war and victory. She was worshiped throughout Rome, along with Jupiter and Juno. This triad (Jupiter-Juno-Minerva) were famous on the Capitol Hill, owing to its sacredness. 

Both Romans and Greeks associate legendary stories with Minerva, that are astonishing yet intensely absorbing. So let's explore some facts about Minerva. 

Facts about the Minerva Roman Goddess

>> The birth of Minerva is quite strange. It's believed that she was born from the head of Jupiter when he had a terrible headache. When every means failed to cure his headache, then Vulcan (smith of the Gods), ripped open his skull. 

Minerva came out at once with weapons and she was the creator of the turmoil inside his head. It's due to this fact that she is also touted as the daughter of Jupiter.

>> The Etruscans portrayed and sculpted her as wearing a helmet and a breast plate. She held a shield and a spear in each hand. 

This image was usually carved on the back of the mirror where she protected Pherse and Hercle. Since she was armed with these weapons, she was also believed to be the daughter of Tinia, who was the God of sky. People paid homage to such images and sculptures, and for this reason, she was considered to be the Goddess of war.

>> Romans also worshiped her as the Goddess of art and crafts. Her creative instincts were sharp and she excelled in music, weaving and spinning. She was known to be the patroness of all art forms. She represented a noble mind and her virtues were associated with the inherent potential of an individual trying seek knowledge and wisdom. 

She was famous throughout Italy as the goddess of a thousand works. 

>> She was a virgin Goddess who represented spirituality, chastity and purity. This fact was established from the fact that she was born from the head of Jupiter. She was armed since her birth, to depict that the human soul is deterred against every form of evils. 

She was invulnerable to fear or intimidation and was incapable of being tampered with any kind of misdeeds. The wisdom possessed by her emanated from her body and demeanor.

>> A few elements that occupied a significant position in her statues or sculptures were, the owl or the cock that stayed at her feet and her helmet was decked up with olives. 

The owl symbolized wisdom and watchfulness while the olives represented that peace is the ultimate outcome of war. She was an epitome of numerous attributes blended in harmony. The olive embedded helmet denoted that she was a powerful reconciler and peacemaker as well. 

>> In Greece, Minerva was worshiped as Athena, whose father was Zeus (in Rome Jupiter). The personality, appearance and quality of Minerva were almost similar to that of Athena, for which both the Goddesses were equated as one. Due to so many factors matching and resembling each other, Roman Minerva and Greek Athena were considered to be the same Goddess. 

A striking feature is the olive clad helmet, and the olive tree was considered to be gift from Athena to her Greek worshipers. The same faith is propounded for Minerva as well.

Those were some subtle facts about the Minerva Roman Goddess. 

You might come across her portraits in a wide range of seals and monograms, that are used in educational establishments, even outside Rome, Greece and Italy. The image embedded is this article shall further make your concept clear about her external appearance.