Goddess: Minerva (Rome) —by Míchealín Daugherty Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom, was the daughter of Jupiter. According to legend, she was said to have leaped from his brain in an already completely mature state, not to mention, a state of superior giftedness.  Minerva is said to possess coveted skills and qualities of both men and women.  These include agriculture and navigation, as well as spinning, weaving and needlework -- and, of course, a high intellectual wisdom.  Minerva had a duality to her nature.  She is considered a warlike divinity, but she despised extreme violence and bloodshed.  She represents defensive war.   Minerva ruled the city, which would come to be known as Athens, after winning a contest against Neptune.  The story has it that both Minerva and Neptune wanted to take the city from the possession of its first king, Cecrops.  The gods thus decreed that the city would be rewarded to whichever of the two could produce the gift most useful to mortals.  Neptune gave a horse, and Minerva, an olive.  With the olive useful in so many ways to the sustainability of humankind, the gods awarded Minerva the city.  The city subsequently was named "Athens" -- Minerva's name in Greek. Minerva ruled Athens quite well, and has come to be represented as a goddess of industry, commerce and education.  She shares a festival in her honour, with Mars, at Quinquatrus -- a five-day festival beginning with the Spring Equinox. Minerva's gem is the ruby; and her plant is the geranium. Notably, the geranium is known as a flower that brings opportunities for happiness.  See Faerie Flowers.  Minerva's animals are the ram and the owl.  Her perfume is of a plant often used in magickal spells and ink, dragon's blood.  Minerva's colour is red. Wear red velvet in her honour.  Call on the Goddess Minerva to aid you in difficult decisions that require wisdom and diplomacy, especially those of a political nature. See Also: Goddesses of War Sources: Farrar J, Farrar S: The Witches' Goddess, Phoenix Publishing, London, 1987. Martin, RP: Bulfinch's Mythology: The Age of the Fable, The Age of Chivalry, Legends, HarperCollins 1991. Personal knowledge/beliefs. Page last updated 10 Aug 2008 Website Design and Myths & Magic logo by Míchealín Daugherty Copyright © 2008 Ireland's OWN All Rights Reserved.