© Hervé Paitier, Inrap
© Hervé Paitier, Inrap
Gods for war
LRomans worship a multitude of deities, each of which governs one or another aspect of human life. Minerva, among other attributions, is the goddess of war; she represents well-regulated warfare, contrary to Mars who presides over the most violent battles. Ancient cameos often represent deities. These objects functioned as amulets: for the possessor of this exceptionally fine example - probably a high-ranking personage - it was a matter of attracting the goddess's benevolence in his military ventures. While Minerva is often depicted motionless and peaceful, the emphasis here is on her character as a fighter, armed from head to toe and mounted on a chariot drawn by two horses in full race.
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