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"Once again, we return."
This article contains spoilers for Issue 25 of The Wicked + The Divine. Read at your own risk. |
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"Once again, we return."
This article contains spoilers for Issue 37 of The Wicked + The Divine. Read at your own risk. |
- "You know what else isn't fair? Dying before you're fourteen."
- —Minerva[src]
Minerva is the Roman Goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, poetry, medicine, commerce, weaving and the crafts, and one of the gods of the Recurrence. Represented by the symbol of an owl, she is known to have appeared in the 450s, 1920s and 2010s Recurrences. She and Ananke are linked, with Minerva being the "Maiden" referenced by Ananke when the rules were laid down for the Recurrences by Ananke and her sister 6000 years ago. It is later revealed during the 1923 events that each Minerva takes on the persona and memories of Ananke in each ritual by killing the previous Minerva. This would mean she has been present for each Recurrence and is the only Recurring god throughout all the cycles to be incarnated each cycle alongside Persephone.
History
Minerva's incarnation was sometime in 2013. She moved into Valhalla with her parents, who started to profit financially from her newfound status as a god. For example, at Fantheon she sold personal blessings for £100 each, at her parents' behest. She was present when Brunhilde attacked Woden and used a miracle to push Brunhilde out of the way, seriously injuring her. Minerva was visibly shaken about this, and was comforted by Baal. She later visited Brunhilde in hospital.
After this incident, Minerva became extremely upset and bitter about her short life span. She also started to become suspicious about the events surrounding Lucifer's imprisonment and death, and questioned why Woden didn't make a cage for Lucifer when he was able to make one for Morrigan.
The night before Minerva's thirteenth birthday, her parents came to her bedroom to wish her goodnight, and laid out her schedule for the next day to a projected illusion of a sleeping Minerva. This included promotional appearances and a birthday party they were charging admission for. At the time, Minerva was sneaking down to see The Morrigan, who had promised her a secret present. The Morrigan told her the truth about Ananke's treachery and propensity for murder, turning Minerva against her. She then let The Morrigan out of her cage, and they ran into Baphomet, who had come to rescue Morrigan. Morrigan decided Minerva should go with them, but Minerva insisted they take her parents with them, delaying Baphomet's plan. They came face to face with the Valkyries and Baal, and a fight ensued. Persephone, who had been working with Baphomet, arrived and rescued them, taking them to the Underground.
They were joined there by Dionysus, who Minerva met for the first time. They discussed Ananke, and Minerva voiced her suspicions about Ananke's actions. However, they were joined by Minerva's owl, which led Baal, Sakhmet and Amaterasu directly to their location. A battle broke out and Minerva was taken away by Amaterasu back to Valhalla. Once there, Ananke murdered her parents in front of her and dragged her away to Woden's machine, where she prepared to sacrifice her. Her actions were interrupted, however, by the arrival of the rest of the gods, who united against Ananke and tied her up in Persephone's vines. Persephone, unable to contain her fury, killed Ananke in an act of brutal violence. They decided they would call it self-defence, though Minerva felt uncomfortable with lying.
Following these events, Minerva moved with Baal and Persephone into the Pantheon's new headquarters in the Shard. With her parents dead, Baal became her legal guardian. Minerva became wary about Baal and Persephone's newly established relationship and, in a display of protectiveness, warned Persephone not to hurt him. She also expressed resentment about being left to die by Amaterasu. She then appeared to be kidnapped by a shadowy creature Baal implied was the Great Darkness.
Appearance
Minerva has short blonde hair, partially dyed red and put up in two buns, blue eyes and light skin. She formerly wore a red military jacket and large, round tinted glasses.Now, she seems to favor short pants, large t-shirts, and goggles. When performing, she wears a pair of owl-like wings.
Relationships
Ananke
Minerva previously followed Ananke's instructions and was comforted by her about her impending death. She later went against Ananke, having discovered that she had been deceiving them. As of Issue 33, she seems to have been still receiving influence from her.
Baal
Of all the gods, Minerva is closest to Baal, who is very protective over her. Baal is now her guardian.
Minerva's parents
Minerva was exploited by her parents, who used her status as a god for financial gain. Despite this, Minerva seemed to care deeply for them, and was horrified when they were killed.
The Morrigan
As Minerva learned more about the nature of Ananke's plans, she became closer to The Morrigan, eventually helping her escape and joining [1] side against Ananke. This relationship mirrors the one she had in the 1920's Recurrence with the Morrigan.
Powers
- Seemingly those of Ananke
- Force Generation: She has been shown to generate and manipulate an extremely powerful force that she used as a force blast/push to cripple Brunhilde to the point of hospitalization. The nature of this ability is unknown but it appears wind-based.
- Performance: She has been seen performing but the nature of her performances is relatively unknown.
Possessions
- Owly - Minerva owns a robotic owl named Owly granted to her by Woden, which she insists is a "prototype Owlphone from a Silicon Roundabout start-up".[2] It possesses various functions:
- Video recording and projection
- Imagery/hologram projection
- Teleportation; even to the Underground, something only underworld gods were thought to be able to do
- Pinpointing Minerva's location
- Flight via its mechanical wings
Past Recurrences
3120s BC Recurrence
Minerva is shown in an Egyptian temple surrounded by the bodies of the Gods of this Recurrence and Ananke. She attempts to conduct the Ritual with three skulls and her own as the sacrifice, but her body is consumed by pink flame.
3030s BC Recurrence
After ninety years have passed, Minerva is reborn as a young girl on the island of Crete, appearing on a beach in a patch of green grass. Remembering the events of the prior Recurrence, she gouges the skin on her face with her nails, while stating, "Never again."
450s Recurrence
Minerva appeared in the 450s Recurrence. Ananke claimed Minerva was lost searching for the Library of Alexandria, but Lucifer claimed Ananke was responsible. Minerva most likely survived and killed the previous Minerva taking on Ananke's persona following the disposal of Lucifer's body in the Tiber.
1830s Recurrence
An unseen Minerva was most likely part of this Recurrence, arriving in Lake Geneva following the attempted resurrection of Hades and the departure of the Creature. She would have conducted the Ritual and gained Ananke's persona.
1920s Recurrence
Minerva appeared in the 1920s Recurrence. She arrived on Lucifer's island alongside Woden and Morrigan. She is treated as a young child by the other Gods who attempt to shield her from the murders that are occurring on the island. Once the Darkness Plan is revealed, she goes to the lighthouse alongside the other Gods to confront Woden, Set and Baal. In the ensuing chaos, she kills Set as revenge for murdering Morrigan. Later the same night she appears to kill herself in an explosion triggered jointly with the three other remaining gods, Amon-Ra, Susanoo, and Amaterasu, at Ananke's prompting.
Minerva survives, shielding herself from the godly powers of Amaterasu. Susanoo also survives, but his head is removed by Minerva and sent to a crypt below Lucifer's mansion, where she and Ananke then walk to. The heads of the Morrigan, Set, and a previously unseen Persephone are sitting on an altar, with Susanoo's head in the middle. Ananke feebly protests against Minerva enacting the ritual. In response, Minerva blows up Ananke's head, killing her before she enacts the ritual, sacrificing the heads of the Gods and endowing her with a power manifested in lightning and skulls appear in her eyes. Her persona as Ananke is established. This Minerva would be the one who conversed with Robert Graves in the 1940's, which would have made her 30 or 40 at the time.
Mythology
Minerva appears to be based on the Roman goddess of wisdom. Maybe. We don't know. Ever since #33, we've been kinda running around crazy. Charlie, get back here with those files on Baphomet's abs. I mean it, Charlie.
Quotes
By Minerva
Dialogue
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Trivia
- Minerva's costume is based on a theme of military-style uniforms in pop culture which have been worn by acts such as The Beatles, The Libertines, My Chemical Romance, Queen, and The Manic Street Preachers.[3]
- Minerva's style is also inspired by Jason & The Argonauts.[3]
- The 1920s Minerva is fashioned as a "French Revolution Shirley Temple."[4]
Appearances
References
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