Minerva was one of the most important goddesses in ancient Roman mythology. Minerva resembled the Greek goddess Athena and like her was a virgin goddess. She was the favorite child of Jupiter, the king of the gods. One myth tells of her being born out of Jupiter’s head, fully grown and dressed in armor.
Minerva had a variety of functions. Originally, she represented skill in handicrafts, particularly those associated with women, such as spinning and weaving. Later, Minerva came to symbolize general skill. Still later, the Romans worshiped her as the goddess of wisdom. The owl has traditionally been considered wise because it was the bird of Minerva.
The Romans, who believed that warfare involved the higher mental powers, worshiped Minerva as the goddess of the intellectual aspect of war. Most artists showed her wearing armor and a helmet. Minerva carried a magic shield or breastplate called the aegis.
