The painting by the Flemish painter Bartholomeus Spranger “Minerva, the winner of Ignorance”. The size of the painting is 163 x 117 cm, canvas, oil. The picture is written as an allegory of mythological themes, has a different name, “Athena, as the winner of Ignorance.” Minerva, the Italian goddess of wisdom, corresponds to the Greek Athena-Pallas.
In Rome, in ancient times, Minerva was considered a warlike goddess of lightning, as indicated by the gladiatorial games of Quinquatria during the main feast in her honor. But mostly Roman Minerva was honored as a patroness and partly an inventor of crafts and arts.
She patronizes sherstobits, shoemakers, doctors, teachers, sculptors, poets and, in particular, musicians; she teaches, teaches and guides women in all their work. Minerva was usually portrayed in armor and helmet with a spear in hand or with an owl in one hand and a snake in the other. The owl is a symbol of night reflections, and the snake is a symbol of wisdom.
Minerva, vainqueur de l’ignorance – Bartolomeus Spranger 
Hermes and Athena by Bartholomeus Spranger 
Mars, Venus and Cupid by Bartholomeus Spranger 
Mercury and Venus by Bartholomeus Spranger 
Angelica and Medor by Bartholomeus Spranger 
Vulcan and Maya by Bartholomeus Spranger 
Minerva, ganadora de la ignorancia – Bartholomeus Spranger 
Self-portrait by Bartholomeus Spranger