Miniature statuette of the goddess Minerva (Athena)

Bronze replica based on a Roman lararium figure

This small statuette depicts Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, craftsmanship and military strategy – known in Greek culture as Athena (or Athene). As one of the most important deities of antiquity, she was regarded as the patron saint of scholars, craftsmen and soldiers. Her symbol is the spear, often accompanied by a helmet, shield or an owl as a sign of wisdom.

In everyday Roman life, Minerva also played an important role in private religious life. Many families worshipped her in their lararia, the small household altars found in their homes. These altars featured small bronze figurines of the gods, to whom people offered sacrifices and prayed for protection for their home, family and work.

Our miniature figurine draws on this tradition. It is a scaled-down interpretation of an ancient lararium statuette of Minerva, the original of which is now housed in the Neues Museum on Berlin’s Museum Island. It thus directly echoes an authentic Roman household altar figurine.

This figurine is particularly suitable as a collector’s item or as a cult figurine for a small home altar. It is the perfect match for our “Comacchio” temple kit, which is designed as a Roman travelling altar and has space for small statuettes of deities.

Each statuette is carefully handcrafted using the traditional lost-wax casting technique and then finished by hand. This intricate technique is the same method used in ancient times to produce numerous bronze statuettes for lararia and shrines.

The manufacturing process is highly labour-intensive and cannot be compared to industrial mass-produced items made from tin or cast resin. Each figurine is created individually, using its own mould and requiring skilled finishing work – a process that demands time, experience and precision. This gives each statuette its own unique character and a quality that is markedly different from simple mass-produced items.

With its compact size and fine detailing, this miniature figure brings a piece of ancient religious history to your collection, diorama or home altar.

Details

• Replica of a Roman statuette of Minerva from the Neues Museum in Berlin

• Depiction of the goddess Minerva / Greek: Athena (Athene)

• Handmade using the traditional lost-wax casting process

• Material: Bronze

• Height: approx. 5.5 cm without the lance, including the base

• Ideal for collections, terrariums or the ‘Comacchio’ travel altar

A small figurine – yet steeped in history: a symbol of wisdom, protection and the spiritual world of antiquity.