Glossary - exWitch Australia (formerly 'Born Again Pagan')

MINERVA

Minerva, probably derived from the Etruscan Goddess Menrva, and since her name is equivalent to mens, "mind," she was in the Etruscan trilogy with Jupiter and Juno, but later took on the aspects of the Geek Goddess Athena. Like the latter in legend, Minerva sprang from the head of Jupiter, which was cleaved by Vulcan's axe. As Minerva Medica she was the tutelary Goddess of Rome.

Minerva was revered as the Goddess of was and peace, and presided over the guilds of dramatic poets and artisans, she also was the protectress of domestic arts including needlework.

Her cult was widespread throughout Italy, but only in Rome did she assume an extreme war-like character. There she was represented with a helmet, shield, and a coat of mail, and the spoils of war were offered to her. The veneration of Mars suffered because of her; the quinquatrus became more her festival than his.

In Rome, Minerva shared the Capitoline Hill sanctuary with Jupiter and Juno.

PLEASE NOTE:
One of the major problems with 'defining' Paganism and/or its beliefs and practices is that it is an 'organic' movement, in that it is undergoing constant change and re-evaluation from within, and as such any 'one-size-fits-all' approach to understanding Paganism will be found wanting.

Due to the very 'organic' nature of Paganism, and the many differing Paths and Traditions within it, in many cases no one definition may be universally accepted by all Pagans. Therefore, where such cases of possible conflicting and/or contradictory meanings of certain terms occur I have endevoured to give not only the generally accepted meaning, but also any major 'variations' in belief and/or practice.

Christians who believe this difference in meaning of certain key terms, beliefs and practices to be unique to Paganism need to remember that such conflicts also arise within the Body of Christ - the Church. Take for instance the differing practices amongst Christians concerning Baptism and the different attitudes towards women in the clergy.

- Jean-Luc