Evening star., 1905-10-23

foundation Of a Christian Church. 1t was
probably the cult statue, that Is. the prln-
cipal temper figure; for the name OF the
new church, the Santa Maria Sopra MI
nerva. indicates that an old temple to
Minerva occupied the site. For long time
in the possession of the noble ltalan 1am-
iiy the Giustiniani. famous In arms, SCI
ence letters and the church, the Minerva
was bought by Lucian Bonaparte, Drother
to Napoleon l. After the fall of the en-
nire Lucian sought refuge in the papal
states, and the Minerva became tne oDJeS. H'
of the admira ton of Pope Plus VII. Finally
purchased for the vatican museum by the
pope he had It placed in the Braccio NuoVo
gallery, the new wing of the great papai
The refned face of the Minerva clearly in
dicates that the sculptor, who invented the
type, meant to depict PaIlas Atnene, VI
Minerva. as represe entative or ciar ihtsln.
pence Both the inception and the style
seem to refer the statue to an Attic orig
iual of the end of the fifth or fourth CEN
| iu~y. r. c., or during the period of the very
greatest work of the Greek sculptors.
Remarkable Mental Power.
The countenan nee of the goddess displays
remarkable mental power fully developed,
a serene wisdom and an eauipoise that Is
sublime 1t is not the severe, cold intellt-
eence that withholds itself from human
interest but while devoid of heat and pas
sion, is irradiated with sympathy. Accord
Ing to the old Greek idea, Athene persona
| fed the clear upper air. and therefore men,
| tai clearness elevated above the contamina-
ton of earth Hers was the acuteness OF
| the inventive mind; she was the spirit OF
| Truth and springing fully armed from the
| head of her father, Zeus. she was the IN
| carnation of power and divine wisdom The
| Greeks anticipated in Athene the great
| thought OF Bacon knowledge is Power
| Her wars were righteous, and her iniiu-
| ence was in direct oppos ton to Mars, the
god of who CeDrPse nteI brute force
The very name of the Roman goddess.
| who. as the Romans began to conquer the
| east, became identified with the Greek
| Athene. suggests the same nobility of con-
| ception. Minerva, the etymology of which
! is obscure, is often identified with the Latin
word meus CT mind. The Emiscan name
| Menerfa meaning spirit, force. mind shows
the same idea. and the Latin memeni, l re-
member. suggests the whole story.
All the great statues of Minerva or
Athene display the same characteristics and
| the accompanying symbols, the owl and the
serpent and her garments and weapons
| always indicate her character.
OF the many statues OF the goddess which
have been preserved, the Athene Parthenos.
| a copy of the Phidan masterpiece, the
| Athene Polas. the Minerva Farnese. the
Minerva Pacifera, the peace-bringer. none
| is so satisfying from an artistic standpoint
| the Minerva Giustiniani.
Pose of Dignity.
| Sometimes called the Minerva Medica
! from the coilins serpent at her feet, the
goddess stands in such pose of dignity
as shows the reverence of the sculptor.
| Clothed In long tunic which falls from
| the shoulders to the feet in voluminous
! folds. a garment the Greek called the
chiton the virgin character OF Minerva Is
enforced by its double fold. or diploidon.
| about the shoulders. and the great enveI-
oping cloak. the himation. gracefully wrap
Il