Minerva

Minerva is the Roman goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, crafts, and the arts. Part of the Capitoline Triad alongside Jupiter and Juno, she was one of Rome's most important deities, worshipped as the patron of craftsmen, artists, and scholars.

Unlike Mars who embodied combat, Minerva represented the intellectual aspects of warfare—strategy, tactics, and just causes. She was also the goddess of handicrafts, invention, and the arts, making her essential to Roman civilization. Schools and universities later adopted her as their symbol.

Minerva was typically depicted in armor with helmet, shield, and spear, but also with symbols of wisdom like the owl and olive tree. Her festival, Quinquatria, was a five-day celebration when students would honor their teachers.