Minerva
Goddess of wisdom
Minerva
Acropolis in Nashville
Favorite child of Jupiter
Minerva was able to watch over her city from her temple on the top of the Acropolis.
Minerva's advisor was the owl, the wisest of the birds. Under her leadership, the Athenians excelled in the arts.
The water, however, was salty like the sea Neptune ruled over, and therefore it was not useful for the people.
Arachne also weaved a beautiful and flawless tapestry. However, her tapestry was making fun of Jupiter and his wives!
Her Mother was Metis, goddess of Prudence, Jupiter's first wife.
Jupiter had been warned that if Metis had a son he would one day defeat him.
In a rage, Minerva destroyed the tapestry and struck Arachne, whose head and arms began to shrink and multiply, until she had become a spider.
Her companion was Nike, spirit of victory. She helped with battle and supported the arts. She would teach students how to weave, and would help them to be successful, but only if they were respectful.
Minerva cursed Arachne to spin her empty web for all eternity, because of her vainity.
Jupiter didn't want to be defeated by his son, but he still needed the advice of Metis.
He tricked her into playing a shape shifting game.
She changed into a fly, and he swallowed her.
one of her students was Arachne. She was very talented at weaving, and people came from all over to watch her. She became vain, and boasted that she was a natural who had learned nothing from Minerva, and she was more talented!
Minerva threw off her disguise, and challenged Arachne to a weaving competition. Minerva weaved the most beautiful tapestry every created. Everything was perfect. Her picture depicted the gods in all their glory.
Jupiter was in agony, all the gods and goddesses tried to help.
Vulcan used his tools to split Jupiter's head open, and out came Minerva with her helmet and robe. Thunder roared and the gods and goddesses stood in awe.
Minerva planted an olive tree in the crevice of a rock, and it was the first olive tree the people had ever seen. The tree provided oil and wood, and therefore her gift was judged to be the best, and the city became hers.
Her favorite city was Athens. She and Neptune both claimed it, and fought over it. They decided whoever could give the finest gift could have the city. They went to the Acropolis with a group. Neptune struck the rock, and up came a spring of water.
Metis sat in Jupiter's head and guided him from there.
Metis was pregnant with a daughter, and hammered out a helmet and weaved a robe for her, causing headaches for Jupiter.
Minerva diguised herself as an old woman and went to try talk some sense into Arachne. She reasoned with the girl to be content to be best among mortals, and not to conpare herself to the gods. Arachne insisted that she was better than Minerva, and could prove it.