Bust of Minerva-Athena

myminifactory

Minerva was the Roman goddess revered for her healing prowess. Her wisdom is embodied by an owl carved atop the pediment, while the helmet alludes to her formidable military strength. The Roman Minerva is identical to her Greek counterpart Athena, who wore a breastplate adorned with Medusa's serpent-haired visage. Yet, on this pedestal, a distinctly masculine face gazes back, defying the typical depiction of the gorgon as female. Before the Romans arrived in Britain, the site's natural hot spring was already revered by locals for its healing properties and association with Sul, a fertility deity. When the Romans assimilated into British culture, they merged their goddess Minerva with Sul to create Sulis Minerva. Roman religion was remarkably adaptable, allowing it to incorporate native deities and blend them seamlessly into new forms. At Bath, the Romans constructed a classical temple dedicated to Minerva, incorporating local elements to appease the British people's spiritual inclinations. The carving on display may symbolize a native deity, balancing the Roman cult statue of Minerva within, or reinterpret an attribute of the goddess – Medusa's serpent-haired visage – in a distinctly local style. The inscription etched onto the statue proudly declares: "SPQR" – the Latin phrase that translates to "Senatus Populusque Romanus," meaning The Roman Senate and People.