European Femininity Template: Minerva

The Roman goddess Minerva – known to the Greeks as Athena

What we have clearly lacking in modern society are archetypes for our people: legendary heroes and heroines, gods and goddesses.  For Christians, there are really no female role models to speak of, save for Joan of Arc who was only relatively recently canonized long after she was burned alive.  Then there is the Virgin Mary – there might as well not be a Virgin Mary because we know nothing about her other than she keeps quiet and does what she is told.  Then there are a few nuns here and there that helped some poor people.  That’s about it.  Not much of an Archetype: keep your mouth shut, do as you are told, and go and help the poor or something.  This may be the reason why many women have rejected Christianity and have opted to rebel via feminism.  It’s horribly misguided but there aren’t many options available and many women stumble into the “victim trap” where the promise is empowerment the end result is a lot of whining and crying about being victimized. (Empowerment is only through virtue and not some “-ism“)

Minerva, more commonly and popularly known as Athena, is a really wonderful archetype – rather, a template for all European women who are unwed (for those that are married, I might do an article on Venus/Aphrodite).  There is a reason why Minerva (alias Athena) was the patron goddess of many cities, including Athens, Rome, and even Vienna.  She is, for all intents and purposes, the female equivalent of Odin and the embodiment of virtue.  No, she didn’t concern herself with gossip, or dying her hair, or makeup, or shopping or even physical pleasures. (I did say virtue, didn’t I?)  Her portfolio is rather impressive: goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, skill, poetry, medicine, commerce, and magic.  This is a portfolio that most ancient gods didn’t have — except for maybe Odin.  To top it off, she was also part of the “Holy Trinity” of ancient Rome that was found at the Temple of Jupiter:  Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. She was also part of the classic Greek triad:  Zeus, Athena (Minerva) and Apollo.

The Roman Trinity: Minerva, Jupiter, Juno

Odin’s warrior daughters, the Valkyries — Choosers of the Fallen — were in the same mold as Minerva.  Minerva was even born with weapons already in her hands.  And — something that would make any father happy — she’s an eternal virgin.  She represents the ancient European women in their youths, prior to marriage (the virginity), and, as you can tell by what she represents, the pursuits that women were also ideally expected to take.  While Apollo was the ancient equivalent of the “Renaissance Man”, Minerva was the ancient equivalent of the “Renaissance woman”.  To be honest, how many men of European descent can say, with a straight face, that they would want a stupid woman to be his wife or daughter? or a victim? or a woman that is uncouth? or a woman that is a failure? or has no confidence?  or lazy?  Jupiter didn’t raise a fool or a victim or an idiot.  Minerva was chiseled, extremely knowledgeable about a whole host of things, tough as nails, chaste AND beautiful.  How many modern women, Christian or Feminist, can compare?

And it’s not like Minerva hated men or even disliked them.  But getting involved with men surely would have diverted her efforts away from virtue and wisdom.  Take for example the trouble the Valkyrie Brunhilde got herself into when she got involved with men.  But back in those days, in was rather uncommon for boys and girls to get involved romantically before a sacred marriage, even mingle together naked.  They would often play and compete together and learn together without too much concern for “fraternizing”.

When women lose their virtue, men behave badly.  Take for example the words of Cato The Elder, a statesman in ancient Rome:

“Woman is a violent and uncontrolled animal, and it is useless to let go the reins and then expect her not to kick over the traces. You must keep her on a tight rein . . . Women want total freedom or rather – to call things by their names – total licence. If you allow them to achieve complete equality with men, do you think they will be easier to live with? Not at all. Once they have achieved equality, they will be your masters . “

When women lose their virtue, men also lose theirs.  The reverse is also true.  By Cato The Elder’s time, Rome had seriously started to degenerate to the point where debauchery was normalized (much like our society today).  Imperialism (and its closely-related consequence, multiculturalism) makes you fat, stupid and lazy.  If women resolved to be like Minerva and men like Apollo, our divorce rate would be near zero.  Women would have no need to get involved with things like Feminism to feel empowered. They would be empowered by virtue.  No man-hating or “sex-positive” nonsense necessary.  And no need to be a quiet and obedient nun!