Minerva

Minerva is the Roman virgin goddess of wisdom, poetry, medicine, commerce, weaving and crafts, equivalent to the Greek goddess Athena.
== History ==
Minerva, in Roman religion, was the goddess of wisdom, commerce, poetry and crafts and unlike the Greek Athena (to whom Minerva was equivalent), she had little to no association with war and combat. The goddess embodied the application of intellect in everyday tasks and was accredited with inventing spinning, weaving, numbers, and music. She is also the patron goddess of medicine and is described by the poet Ovid as the "Goddess of a thousand works."
Some scholars believe that her cult was that of Athena introduced at Rome from Etruria. This is reinforced by the fact that she was apart of the Capitoline triad, hailed as a guardian of the state alongside the gods Jupiter and Juno. A shrine atop Rome's Aventine Hill dedicated to Minerva functioned as a meeting place for guilds of craftsmen, including at one time dramatic poets and actors.
Under the Emperor Domitian, who claimed her special protection, the worship of Minerva attained its greatest vogue in the Roman Empire.
== Appearance ==
Minerva appears as a young woman in jeans, hiking boots, and a red flannel shirt. She has long dark hair that cascades over her shoulders. She dresses like she is prepared for a long journey, as she also wears a backpack and carries a walking stick (in place of her shield and spear).
== Personality ==
Unlike her Greek counterpart, Minerva is not a war goddess to the Romans, acting as more of a defence/strategic adviser and artist (the Romans largely looked down upon defensive manoeuvres, always falling back on them as a last resort even if Minerva was correct in suggesting a retreat. This is because the Romans always attacked others to defend themselves). Because of this, Minerva hates the Romans and wants revenge on them for stealing her statue when the Romans attacked the Greek city-states. Her goal of revenge goes so far that she does not seem to think clearly and exhibits vengeful and violent tendencies, sometimes without thinking. This is in deep contrast to Athena, as Percy once commented that Athena was one of the worst enemies he could make, as she would think everything through and never make a mistake in her quest for revenge.
Minerva also thinks somewhat low of herself, saying that she is more than what she is as Minerva as Athena, even hating the name. Also, because of her conflicting natures at the time, Minerva is slightly distracted, as she did not know who Annabeth was and had difficulty reading a subway map.
Minerva may also be somewhat petty as her argument with Annabeth led to her removing the magical properties of Annabeth's Yankees Cap as a punishment.
== Abilities ==
She presumably possesses the standard powers of a goddess.
* Divine Wisdom: As the Goddess of Wisdom, Minerva is extremely wise, intelligent, and knowledgeable.
* Craftsmanship: As the Goddess of Crafts, Minerva is an incredibly skillful craftswoman, though she is best known for her talent in weaving (the very art of which she herself invented).
* Mystiokinesis: As a Goddess of Magic, Minerva has absolute control and divine authority over magic, though not as much as Hecate.
== Representation ==
She is described by the poets, and represented by the sculptors and painters in a standing attitude, completely armed, with a composed but smiling countenance, bearing a golden breast-plate, a spear in her right hand, and the Aegis in her left, having on it the head of Medusa, entwined with snakes. Her helmet was usually encompassed with olives, to denote that peace is the end of war, or rather because that tree was sacred to her. At her feet is generally placed the owl or viper, the former being the emblem of wisdom and the latter of war.
== Trivia ==
* She has no known demigod children or legacies at Camp Jupiter because she tends to isolate herself.
Category:Characters
Category:Roman Goddesses
Category:Children of Jupiter
Category:Olympians