Statue of Minerva

A statue larger than life. In this remarkable specimen of ancient art, the goddess is represented with the attributes pertaining to her twofold character as the presiding divinity of peace and war. The general outlines of the figure recall the majestic beauty of the Giustiniani Pallas now in the Vatican Museum, the original of which is undoubtedly the work of some famous Greek artist; this view being further borne out by the numerous imitations of it which have been made. The attitude however is somewhat changed, and the number of emblems increased, whence it may be inferred that this statue was once used as an object of religious worship. The goddess bears the Argive shield on her left arm and grasps the spear with the same hand, her right pointing to the olive tree of the Erectheion, as if in the act of calling attention to the precious gift which she has bestowed on mortals. The bird sacred to her, sits upon the tree, around the trunk of which the sacred serpent is entwined. This group of the olive tree with the owl and serpent in conjunction with Minerva occurs on certain Athenian coins of the time of the Empire. The work before us ranks among the finest specimens of ancient art, and is one of the chief ornaments of this museum.

Inv. nr. 298. H. 2.12.