or PALLAS, in Pagan worship, the goddess of sciences and of wisdom, sprung completely armed from Jupiter's brain; and on the day of her nativity it rained gold at Rhodes. She disputed with Neptune the honour of giving a name to the city of Athens; when they agreed that whosoever of them should produce what was most useful to mankind, should have that advantage. Neptune, with a stroke of his trident, formed a horse; and Minerva caused an olive to spring from the ground, which was judged to be most useful, from its being the symbol of peace. Minerva changed Arachne into a spider, for pretending to excel her in making tapestry. She fought the giants; favoured Cadmus, Ulysses, and other heroes; and refused to marry Vulcan, chiding rather to live in a state of celibacy. She also deprived Tirefias of sight, turned Medusa's locks into snakes, and performed several other exploits.

Minerva is usually represented by the poets, painters, and sculptors, completely armed, with a composed but agreeable countenance, bearing a golden breastplate, a spear in her right hand, and her aegis or shield in the left, on which is represented Medusa's head encircled with snakes, and her helmet was usually entwined with olives.

Minerva had several temples both in Greece and Italy. The usual victim offered her was a white heifer, never yoked. The animals sacred to her were the cock, the owl, and the basilisk.