Minerva and the Capitoline Triad: A History of Cultural Exchange in Italy

Minerva is one of the most important goddesses in the Roman pantheon and Roman society. One defining aspect of her godhood is her position as one of three gods of the Capitoline Triad, who stood above the rest of the Roman Pantheon. The origins of both Minerva and the Capitoline Triad, however, are shrouded in mystery. The focus of this thesis is to analyze the rich history of cultural exchange that surrounded the Romans in the ancient Mediterranean world. In doing so, the echoes of a possible origin to both Minerva and the Capitoline Triad can be found