Minerva was a major component of the Roman pantheon, being one of the three deities in the Capitoline Triad. Her cult evolved from the Etruscan deity Menvra, who was gradually Hellenised during the 3rd-4th century BC and adopted within the ancient Greek religion as Athena. The Roman Minerva appropriated Greek iconography, and is often depicted with a small shield and wearing a soldier’s helmet. The iconography of Minerva holding a spear and shield appears throughout Roman art and in Roman Imperial coinage. Together with Jupiter and Juno, she was part of the Capitoline Triad worshipped on the Capitoline Hill, which integrated the Etruscan trinity formed by Tini, Uni and Menvra, into the Roman religion. She was worshipped by the Romans as the goddess of medicine, strategy, science and wisdom. Contrary to the god of war Mars, she was believed to fight on behalf of just causes, hence, was not seen as a patron of violence, but as a civilising influence.
Roman Bronze Bust of Minerva
£ 550.00
A lovely, ancient Roman bronze bust of Minerva, which may have once served as an appliqué or mount. The goddess is depicted frontally, with her head tilted downwards and slightly left. She has a serene expression, with her eyes, straight nose, and lips still visible. Her head is surmounted with a Corinthian helmet, worn high on her head, pushed back from her face. The nose guard and eye slits on the helmet have been clearly articulated. Her long hair, which trails down the back of her neck in a plait, peeks out from underneath the helmet, with each wavy lock carefully rendered. She wears an aegis, fronted by the facing head of Medusa, a typical attribute of the goddess. The curling lines drop from the V-shaped opening of the aegis, representations of snakes. The head and long neck have been modelled in the round, whereas the bottom half of the bust features details to the front while the reverse remains plain and unworked.
Condition: Excellent condition. A beautiful dark patina and some encrustations to the surface. Signs of wear as consistent with age, such as some indentations, pitting, scratches, and chipping.
| Weight | 34.46 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | L 2.1 x W 1.8 x H 4 cm |
| Metal | Bronze |
| Region | Southern Europe |
| Roman Mythology | Minerva |
Reference: For a similar item, The British Museum, item 1814,0704.747
