Roman Around

Minerva (Greek - Athena or Athene) The name Minerva is connected with the root manas or mens. She is the least Italic of the divinities. Minerva plays no part in any specifically Roman legend. The Roman Minerva was especially the protectress of commerce and industry and of schools. It was only later that she assumed the character of a warrior-goddess.

The Roman goddess first appeared in Etruria and was perhaps a goddess of the thunderbolt. She was then introduced into the Capitoline Triad, with Jupiter and Juno. According to Roman tradition the cult of Minerva originated in Falerii when in 241 BC. the Romans took this town and carried Minerva off. One of her earliest temples was built on Mons Caelius and bore the name Minerva Capta. There was, however, a temple already consecrated to Minerva in Rome on the Aventine. In any case her cult was not ancient in Latium or among the Sabines. According to one tradition Minerva was one of the gods brought to Rome by Numa. The festival of Minerva was celebrated in March at the Quinquatria, which lasted five days during the Spring Equinoxes.

The attributes of the goddess are analogous to those of the Greek Pallas Athena. She presided over intellectual and, in particular, academic activity. On the Esquiline there was a shrine dedicated to Minerva Medica, Minerva the healer. Minerva was venerated throughout the Empire. Particular homage was paid to her by corporations of artisans, flute-players, doctors and so fourth. There was no purely Roman figure of Minerva. The Etruscans had represented her with wings, holding a screech-owl in her hand. It will be remembered that this bird was sacred to Athena.

Ev Butterworth

Hamilton Amateur Astronomers
Maintained by Rob Roy