Minerva

=Minerva= Minerva is the Roman goddess of war and wisdom. She was the patron of ornamental arts, which is stuff like weaving, doing needle work and other important artistic skills for both men and women. Minerva was said to be born, fully grown and armed, coming out of Jupiter's brain. Her symbol is usually the olive tree, and when she is presented to people she has an owl by her side. The olive tree is meant to represent to people that she wanted war to end for she was the defender of war, not offender. The owl was a bird that could see in the dark and helped out people in error. This bird also helped the blind see in a time of darkness.

Minerva the patron of arts. Many artists and poets describe her or draw her with a golden chest plate and a huge grin on her face. In her right hand she would hold a spear and in the other the Aegis in her left, having on it the head of Medusa and her hair full of snakes. She would have a helmet on with an olive tree or just plain olives. That represented peace and the ending of all wars. At the bottom of her feet an owl would be settled there also representing peace and enlightenment She was born armed, because that represented to other people around her that she was unbroken and she was made with wisdom and other powers. Many poets describe her as passionate, full of heart, courage, and wisdom.

[[image:http://karenswhimsy.com/public-domain-images/roman-goddess-costume/images/roman-goddess-costume-6.jpg width="262" height="393" align="right" link="url"]]Minerva's Story
One of the greatest stories that I personaly like is the one called Minerva and Arachne. Arachne was born as a poor girl, but was an amazing weaver. People from all over would come just to watch her weave. Everyone knew about her skills through the city, and tons of people would come to watch her weave all the time. One day someone said to Arachne that she got her weving skills from Minerva but she had denied it. Minerva was mad for after all she was the goddess of weaving and she shoudl have been reconized.So Minerva in anger, disguised herself as an old lady and came to visit Arachne, and Arachne quickly dismissed the goddess in disguise. Minerva revealed her true identity as a goddess and challenged Arachne to a weaving contest, whoever wove the better won was indeed the best. Arachne wove things like pictures of Zues, the other gods, ect. But Minerva simply couldnt find a mistake on any of them, in anger she ripped up all Arachne's work. Then she slapped her a few times in anger, and Arachne was so sad that she hung herself right there infront of Minerva. Minerva pittied her and turned her into a spider, so that she can practice all the time.