| Free Indeed - Part 8 : Back to Minerva In Parts 1-7 of this report we examined the basic story lines of the false gods Minerva and Vulcan, and their place in the iconography of the national Capitol in Washington D.C. and other cities in the U.S. Part 8 will document further instances of Minerva in graven images, whether under her Roman name, Minerva, her Greek name, Athena, or other pseudonyms. The city of Nashville, Tennessee is a sister city to Athens, Greece. In Nashville's beautiful Centennial Park is a replica of the Parthenon. This ancient Greek temple honored Athena in her aspect as Athena Parthenos, the virgin. Inside stood a gigantic statue of Athena, sculpted by Pheidias, who also made the famous statue of Zeus upon which Horatio Greenough modeled his "George Washington seated as Zeus." Although the ancient Greek statue of Athena Parthenos no longer exists, the replica standing in the Nashville Parthenon is the largest indoor sculpture in the Western World. It stands 41 feet tall; the winged victory (Nike) in her hand is over 6 feet. The link below will take you to the Nashville Parthenon's official site. If you move the mouse over the different parts of the statue, information will appear about the various elements, including her helmet, the aegis, her shield, the eleven snakes in the composition, especially Erectheus (or Erecthonius). Although this site mentions Erectheus as the legendary first king of Athens, it omits the story of his birth through the failed rape of Athena by her brother Hephaestus (Vulcan), and interprets the snakes as symbols of rebirth. http://www.nashville.org/parthenon/dev/vtour/index.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The main campus of the University of Georgia is located in Athens, Georgia. The town has a fairly recent statue of Athena modeled on a different ancient likeness of the goddess. This link includes a photo and description of the artist's intent, as well as a brief description of one of the pagan rites performed in worship of this demon. http://www.athensclarkecounty.com/tour/tour1.htm +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Because she claims to rule over wisdom and learning, Minerva/Athena is often evoked in association with education and universities. In the 1839 edition of Noah Webster's widely used "Blue Back Speller," there was a frontispiece which showed Minerva pointing children toward a Pantheon upon which are engraved the words Knowledge, Fame, and Wisdom. This is the same Noah Webster who founded and named the first daily newspaper in New York City "American Minerva." The frontispiece from the spelling book inspired a series of Minerva seals at the University of Michigan which were in use between 1843-1895. Scroll down a bit on this page to see both the frontispiece and the subsequent UMI seals: (Note, you cannot http://www.umich.edu/~bhl/bhl/seals/seal1843.htm ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I found several other American universities which feature Minerva on their seals. I did not do an exhaustive search, so there may be others. Here are links to the ones I found: University of Louisville: http://www.louisville.edu/ur/onpi/style/academic_logos.html University at Albany http://www.albany.edu/academic_computing/web/accessibility/markdesc.html University of Virginia (scroll down to bottom of page for link to .tif image) http://www.itc.virginia.edu/lsp/1999/0791.html University of Alabama (description, no image): http://www.ua.edu/academic/facsen/handbook/chapter-1.html Minerva appears in the Minneapolis Public Library, one of the country's preeminent public libraries: http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/scrl97oct.asp ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The State of California depicts Minerva on its official seal: http://www.library.ca.gov/history/symbols/seal.jpg +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The official Congressional Medal of Honor site outlines the history of the design of various forms of the medal of Honor, including Minerva and other imagery. Note especially the association of Liberty with the Babylonian goddess Semiramis on this official page: http://www.cmohs.org/medal/medal_symbolism.htm ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ As previously mentioned, images of Minerva are sometimes blended with images of Liberty, Freedom, America, Columbia, or other personifications of the United States. At Columbia University in New York City, she is called Alma Mater (Fostering Mother or Soul Mother). The 4 ton bronze statue was completed in 1901 by Daniel Chester French, who is most famous for his Concord Minuteman and the seated Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial. Alma Mater sits in front of Low Library at this very influential University. Her name, Alma Mater, may indicate a relationship with the Phrygian goddess Cybele. In Greece she was known as Meter, and in Rome, Magna Mater. We are all familiar with the term Alma Mater, of course, which refers to the school one attended. However, the term has been used historically to refer to these goddesses as well as Semiramis. In the case of this particular sculpture, we know that French intended her to be associated with Minerva/Athena because he hid an owl in her robes, and the owl is her special animal. Inscribed on the statue in Latin is the motto: In Lumine Tuo Videbimus Lumen (In Thy Light Shall We See Light): http://www.chuckjerry.com/images/almamater.jpg http://www.morningside-heights.net/alma.htm ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Daniel Chester French also did the large statue of Republic displayed at the 1893 Chicago World's Columbian Exposition. The Great White City displayed at this expo launched the Beautiful City movement and many monuments and parks in cities across the country were based on the Beaux Arts ideals presented there. The importance of this and the other expositions of the period cannot be overemphasized, and much work remains to be done by the mapping community in uncovering the spiritual strongholds established by these events. This statue of Republic is holding a globe and eagle in one hand and a liberty cap on a pole in the other. Her head is crowned with laurel, and she is gazing at an obelisk-like edifice. Scroll down on the first link below to see a photo of her, just below the photo of the lavish Columbian fountain; keep scrolling to see the triumphant arch with the Columbus Quadriga on top. If you click around on this site a bit you will find more information about the Great White City, other links to information about this exposition, and a bibliography of print sources: http://users.vnet.net/schulman/Columbian/sculpture.html For a panorama of part of the main area, including the obelisk: http://users.vnet.net/schulman/Columbian/megaview.html Another excellent site about this Expo: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA96/WCE/title.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In New York City, Grand Central Station (Terminal) is topped by ornate statues of the false gods Minerva, Mercury, and Hercules. Mercury is the central figure, in front of an eagle; Minerva and Hercules are seated on either side of him: http://www.thecityreview.com/grandcen.html ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ New York City also has several other statues of Minerva. One rather remarkable one is in Green-Wood Cemetery, on the highest point in Brooklyn. This hill was the site of a revolutionary war battle. About 600,000 graves are here, scores of them bearing obelisks and other Masonic markers, many of them belonging to famous, wealthy, influential people. Atop the summit is a statue of Minerva, called the "Altar to Liberty." The statue looks across the way and is saluting the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. This is the inscription engraved on the East side of the altar: "THE PLACE WHEREON THOU STANDEST IS HOLY GROUND Glory to the memory of our first national heroes who fought and fell on this battleground to win our liberty and independence! Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom, Glory and Patriotism, here salutes the Goddess of Liberty and enwreathes this altar in tribute to the heroes of American Liberty and to the wisdom of American institutions." http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/bkbathil.html for a close up view: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pis&GRid=4754&PIgrid=4754&PIpi=81165& +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In Herald Square, at 35th and Broadway in Manhattan, is another large statue of Minerva. Manhattan's Flagship Macy's Department Store is on this square, and it is the end point of their famous Thanksgiving Day Parade. Notice the two owls with outstretched wings on either side of the clock, and the bell ringers in front of Minerva. The ringers are known as "Stuff and Guff" or, alternatively, "Gog and Magog." http://www.clocks.org/new_york_state/ny_manhattan_herald_square_minerva.html This graven image originally adorned the front of the New York Herald building. This newspaper was started by James Gordon Bennett, Sr., in 1835, and later run by his son, J.G. Bennett, Jr. Although the New York paper (known later, after a merger, as the New York Herald-Tribune) closed in 1966, Bennett's Paris Herald is still published today as the International Herald Tribune. Brief biography of J.G. Bennett, Jr. : http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/cref-benjam.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The relationship of Minerva to the goddess of Liberty will be discussed in more detail in a later report. The Minerva of Herald Square, New York City, is related to a Liberty Torch monument in Paris, France, however, by virtue of their common journalistic sponsor. The International Herald Tribune, still based in Paris, is printed in 9 countries and distributed in 164 countries. It enjoys a reputation as the foremost English newspaper in many countries. In 1987, to commemorate the centennial of its founding, this newspaper erected a monument of the Liberty Torch in downtown Paris. When Princess Diana was killed near this monument in August of 1997, it immediately became a de facto memorial to her. After the events of 9-11 people also laid flowers here as a memorial to those victims. Scroll down to see the Liberty Torch monument on the left: http://www.billday.com/11september.html Close up views of the memorials at the base of the torch: http://www.wooster.edu/ipo/princess-s98.html http://www.sonic.net/dks/PhotoGallery/EuropePics/DiMemorial.jpg It is interesting to note the cult-like adoration of Princess Diana. Unfortunately the link has gone dead and I did not save the report at the time, but about a year ago I read a lengthy media analysis by a French journalist likening the activity at the Liberty Torch to worship of Princess Diana. I found this report especially intriguing since the journalist showed no evidence of being a Christian, but was simply reporting from a secular point of view about an activity he found to be somewhat strange. A few people have pushed their reverence for Diana past the quasi-religious all the way to full blown cult: http://www.surfingtheapocalypse.com/goddess.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Municipal Building in New York City is topped by a golden statue known as "Civic Fame." She is the largest public statue in NYC. Although Fame (Pheme) was also a separate entity in the Greek pantheon, Civic Fame in particular was an appellation given to Athena as patroness of cities. http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/fa267/20th/nyc_munic5.jpg http://www.alovelyworld.com/webusa/htmgb/ny27.htm http://www.aviewoncities.com/building/municipalbuilding.htm Less clear is the connection of Minerva/Athena to statues of Justice. Justice was also a separate goddess in the Greek pantheon. In American civic iconography, however, the two are often merged or confused. A statue of Justice sits atop the NYC City Hall: http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/cityhall.html Recently, there were stories in the news about Attorney General John Ashcroft ordering drapes to cover the naked breasts of a statue in the Department of Justice known as "The Spirit of Justice." I read several stories about this at the time, but I didn't read any mention at all of the possibility that this statue represented idolatry; the only issue I saw discussed was the public nudity. It is interesting in light of this study to note that the statue in question is referred to informally by federal workers as "Minnie Lou," perhaps in reference to Minerva. See also this site, about the Justice Americana collectors' series, which states: "The female figure of the Spirit of Justice is likened to Pallas Athene, the great civic goddess who was also wise in the industries of peace." http://www.unicover.com/EA1CAHE7.HTM +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Athena/Minerva represents a false goddess in the ancient Greek and Roman pantheons. She is not simply an allegorical figure, but a demon, a false god who was worshipped widely in overt pagan rituals, including sacrifice. She is associated strongly with Zeus, with Vulcan, and with her counterfeit virgin-born son, the serpent god Erecthonius. She is a counterfeit. She is not an authentic representative of wisdom, for the Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. The Wisdom of God is Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and Minerva stands, wearing the helmet of gnosis, in opposition to faith in Jesus Christ. Ireneaus, Bishop of Lyons who lived in the second century, wrote in his highly regarded work, "Against Heresies", that Simon the Sorcerer from the Book of Acts was represented through graven images of Jupiter and that his consort, Helena, was represented as Minerva. If this is correct, the widespread use of Minerva in modern civic iconography may be tapping into one of the first schemes Satan implemented after the resurrection in order to pervert, counterfeit, and compete with the true gospel. "They also have an image of Simon fashioned after the likeness of Jupiter, and another of Helena in the shape of Minerva; and these they worship." http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103123.htm * Special thanks to Joanne Panettieri for research and images related to New York City. |
| +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ |
