Minerva

Also known as: Pallas / Tritonia / daughter of Jove / warlike Virgin · Family: Gods · Role: goddess who animates man · First appears: Fable 2

In Fable 2, Minerva animates the human form fashioned by Prometheus. In Fable 23, she places Ericthonius in a basket and entrusts him to Aglauros, Herse and Pandrosos, forbidding them to inspect it. After the forbidden basket is opened, one of the virgins is transformed into a bird and assigned as Minerva’s companion.

In Fable 27, angered by Aglauros’s profanation and avarice, Minerva goes to Envy’s abode; in Fable 28, she orders Envy to infect Aglauros with jealousy. In Fable 31, she appears to Cadmus and instructs him to sow the dragon’s teeth, which he does. In Fable 47, after covering her eyes with her shield, she changes Medusa’s hair into snakes as punishment. At Helicon in Fable 49, she leaves Perseus behind and departs from Seriphus.

In Fable 55, Arachne challenges Minerva to a weaving contest. Minerva reveals herself, and the two begin to weave; though she cannot fault Arachne’s work, she tears it and strikes Arachne with her shuttle. She then rescues her as she hangs, declares that she and her descendants will remain spiders, and transforms her. In Fable 72, Minerva receives Perdix and makes him a bird.