Minerva

Mi·ner·va

noun \mə-ˈnər-və\

Definition of MINERVA

: the Roman goddess of wisdom — compare athena

Origin of MINERVA

Latin

First Known Use: 14th century

Minerva

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In Roman religion, the goddess of handicrafts, the professions, the arts, and, later, war. She was commonly identified with the Greek Athena. Some scholars believe that worship of Minerva began when Athena's cult was introduced at Rome from Etruria. Minerva was one of the Capitoline triad, along with Jupiter and Juno, and her shrine in Rome was a meeting place for craftsmen's guilds. The worship of Minerva attained its greatest vogue under the emperor Domitian, who claimed her special protection.