Athena,
Greek goddess identified in Rome with Minerva, the daughter of Zeus
and Metis. Metis was pregnant and was about to give birth to a child when
Zeus swallowed her. When the child was to be born Zeus felt terrible headaches
and bade Hephaestus to split his head
open with a blow. A girl in full armour sprang forth from his head; it
was the goddess Athena.
See: Alessandro BotticelliPallas/Camilla
and the Centaur.
Jacques-Louis David.
The Combat
of Mars and Minerva.
Gustav Klimt. Pallas Athena.
Andrea Mantegna. Minerva
Chases the Vices from the Garden of Virtue.
Rembrandt. Minerva.