Variously described as the Goddess of Wisdom, War, Arts & Crafts, Minerva sits above a shop at the corner of Minster Gate and High Petergate. She is shown accompanied by an owl (for wisdom) and leaning on a column (for architecture) amongst her books (for poetry). The figure was crafted by John Wolstenholme in 1801.
The shop below used to be a booksellers where authors and readers gathered to discuss the latest literary offerings in a kind of early version of the book club.
Minerva looks like a woman not to be trifled with! At the time the name Minerva was used both by the French and the British for the name of several frigates.
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteSuper post! Like her a lot.
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