Mĭnerva (old orthogr. Menerva, like magester, leber, etc., acc. to Quint. 1, 4, 17), ae, f. [from the root men, whence mens, memini, moneo, etc.; v. infra],
I a Roman goddess, identified with the Grecian Pallas Athene, the daughter of Zeus, and the goddess of wisdom, of sense and reflection, of the arts and sciences, of poetry, and of spinning and weaving : Minerva dicta, quod bene moneat. Hanc enim pagani pro sapientiā ponebant; Cornificius vero, quod fingatur pingaturque minitans armis, eandem dictam putat, Paul. ex Fest. p. 123 Müll.; cf. Cic. N. D. 1, 30, 180; 3, 23, 59; Varr. L. L. 5, § 74 Müll.: daedala, Enn. ap. Paul. ex Fest. s. v. daedalam, p. 68: Minerva nostra, custos urbis, Cic. Fam. 12, 25, 1: Minerva Iliensis, Ulp. Fragm. 22, 6: Aristoteles ... Minervam esse Lunam probabilibus argumentis demonstrat, Arn. 3, 31.—Prov.: pingui or crassā Minervā aliquid facere, without art, skill , or learning, plainly, rudely , Col. 1 praef. § 33; Cic. Lael. 5, 19: rusticus crassā Minervā, Hor. S. 2, 2, 3: invitā Minervā, contrary to the bent of one's genius or natural abilities, against the grain , Hor. A. P. 385: quia nihil decet invitā, ut aiunt, Minervā, id est adversante et repugnante naturā, Cic. Off. 1, 31, 301: sus Minervam (docet), a stupid man will instruct a wise one , Cic. Ac. 1, 5, 18: omnis Minervae homo, jack - of - alltrades , Petr. 43, 8: MINERVA MEDICA, i. e. medicina, the goddess of health , Inscr. Rein. 11, 81: fecit ex ebore aeque Minervam, a statue of Minerva , Plin. 34, 8, 19, § 54. —Transf.
A A working in wool, spinning and weaving : tolerare colo vitam tenuique Minervā ( = telā, lanificio), Verg. A. 8, 409; Ov. M. 4, 33; Prop. 2, 9, 5.—
B To form the name of a place.
1 Minervae Arx, v. Minervius, II. B.—
2 Minervae Promontorium, a promontory in Campania, to the south-east of Surrentum, the abode of the Sirens , now Punta della Capanella , Liv. 40, 18, 8; Ov. M. 15, 709.