The Roman Goddess Minerva

The Roman Goddess Minerva. Goddess of Wisdom, Justice, Strategy, Crafts and Trade. On the face of the rock outcrop is a worn carving of the Roman goddess Minerva, standing within a stylised temple. She holds a spear in her right hand and possibly a shield in her left. An owl is perched on her left shoulder and an altar is shown to her right. There may already have been a niche that could be used for offerings, but it was probably enlarged later., Sandstone rubble found across Edgar's Field shows that it was the site of a Roman quarry, active mainly in the 2nd century AD. The landscape may have looked different at that time, as quarrying took place in Handbridge until the 19th century., Minerva was one of the most important deities of the Roman state, but it was as the patroness of crafts that she was depicted here. Images of deities carved into the solid rock are very rare in Roman Britain., At Chester, the choice of Minerva and the classical style of the carving reflect the status and culture of the legionary fortress., The figure may have survived the Middle Ages because it was thought to be an image of the Virgin Mary. By the 18th century the niche was known as Edgar's Cave after the Saxon King Edgar, who was rowed on the River Dee in AD 973. Edgar also gave his name to the field and was said to have had a palace there., "To the goddess Minerva , Furius Fortunatus, Senior , Master, fulfilled his vow." , -- Dedication on Roman altar found in Bridge Street Row East, 1861