Manifestation of Minerva for the military commander. Ancient Rome. Italy. ~17th-18th.

Print from cooper engraving.

Drawn and engraved by unknown artist.

Notes: 120.

Minerva (Etruscan: Menrva) was the Roman goddess of wisdom and sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. She was born with weapons from the godhead of Jupiter. From the 2nd century BC onwards, the Romans equated her with the Greek goddess Athena. She was the virgin goddess of music, poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, and magic. She is often depicted with her sacred creature, an owl usually named as the "owl of Minerva", which symbolizes that she is connected to wisdom.

Approx. image size 17, 1 x 13, 9/19, 1 x 16, 2 cm.

Condition: good.