Minerva was the Roman equivalent of Athena, the
goddess of the household arts. She was possibly of Etruscan origin, and the most usual, if cautious, interpretation of her name is 'mindful' from the men- root that gave Greek mnemon, 'remembering', Latin memini, 'to remember', and ultimately English 'mind'. For her by-names (and those of Athena). Compare also
Mnemon.
