2nd-3rd century AD. A carved marble statuette of Minerva, goddess associated with wisdom, strategic warfare and the sponsor of arts, trade and strategy; standing on a rectangular base wearing a peplos and palla cloak, sandals on her feet and plumed helmet galea with fronds to the brow; left arm supporting a spear shaft, right arm raised and missing the usual patera. Cf. Boucher, S. Inventaire des Collections Publiques Françaises - 17 Vienne: Bronzes Antiques, Paris, 1971, item 10 for type; Daremberg - Saglio, Dictionnaire des Antiquités Grecques et Romaines, Paris, 1873-1917; Durham, E. ‘Depicting the gods: metal figurines in Roman Britain’, in Internet Archaeology 31, 2012 at http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue31/durham_index.html, Durham, E. 'Metropolitan styling: figurines from London and Colchester’ in Hoss, S. and Whitmore, Small Finds and Ancient Social Practices in the Northwest Provinces of the Roman Empire, Oxford, 2016, pp.75-97; the small statuette presents some similarity with three statuettes of Minerva found in London and Colchester. In comparison with the forty-seven male deities from London and twenty from Colchester, only twelve figurines of female deities have been recovered from London and eight from Colchester (until 2016), and among the female deities only Minerva and Venus are depicted in any number (Durham, 2016, pp.79ff."). One example from Isleworth, Greater London, is seated (Durham, 2012, no.119), while the five from within London itself and Colchester are standing and follow the conventions for the majority of Minerva figurines as they are dressed in long gowns, four have additional drapery and four also wear the aegis and Corinthian helmet (Durham, 2012, nos.120-124, 1117, 1150; Durham, 2016, fig.2"). Like our specimen, all three of the London figurines which still have arms, have the right arm extended (two hold a patera, the hand of the third figure is missing like here) while the left arm is raised, but both Colchester examples have a raised right arm and lowered left. 1.7 kg, 29cm (11 1/2"). From a private European collection; formerly in a German collection formed before 2000; supplied with geologic report No. TL005227, by geologic consultant Dr R. L. Bonewitz and archaeological report by Dr. Raffaele D’Amato. Minerva is the Roman expression of the 'goddess of wisdom' perhaps adapted from an Etruscan original Menrva and influenced by the Greek Athena who was likewise a goddess of war, handicrafts and wisdom. Roman tradition more often emphasised the peaceful and artistic aspects of her cult, rather than the martial ones. Her worship took place at several sites around Rome including the Capitoline hill, the temple of Minerva Medica, and the Delubrum Minervae temple beneath the present church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. She formed part of a holy triad with the sky-god Tinia and goddess Uni, equating to the Roman Capitoline Triad of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. Her cult spread throughout the empire: in southwest Britain she was named Sulis Minerva and the hot restorative springs at Bath were dedicated to her.