This month's altar honours Menrva, the Etruscan goddess of war, art, wisdom, and medicine. Ancient Etruscan civilization, which arose in the 9th century BCE in Tuscany and area, dominated Italy until it fell to Rome in the late 4th century BCE. Menrva inspired the creation, character, and attributes of her Greek and Roman divine feminine counterparts Athena and Minerva.
The statue of Menrva on the altar is an Etruscan reproduction which I bought in Florence while vacationing in Tuscany in 2008. The warrior goddess carrying her owl of wisdom rides triumphantly in her chariot drawn by a beautifully stylized steed.
Similarly, the little porcelain art deco grecian urn holding the red taper candle dates from my antiquing days as well. I found it about 30 years ago in a rural Manitoba barn stuffed full to bursting with antiques, collectibles and just plain old junk. I have always loved it!
As with my August full moon altar, synchronicity once again made itself known after I created this altar to Menrva. I was notified that a dear gay male friend, with whom we shared a villa in Tuscany on our 2008 trip, had passed away in October. His obituary said how much he loved Italy, its culture and people, and had returned to it for six months last year to study the language and become fluent. I attended his funeral a couple of days ago. Rest in peace, Jim.
[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, 2025]
38 comments:
...Debra, I'm sorry to hear of your loss.
Debra, I'm sorry to hear about your Jim, gentle condolences to you. ♥ I saw the Supermoon this morning and she was glorious! xxx
What a wonderful remembrance of and tribute to Jim. Like him and you, I enjoyed Tuscany. I got to go to middle school in Firenze (Florence) in the '60s. The art and culture were outstanding, and the firecrackers for sale under the counter at the local bake shop were irresistible to middle school me. Menrva and Jim, here's a KABOOM to celebrate you!
What a lovely tribute.
Sorry to hear he passed.
Love the altar. And those bookends!
XOXO
@ Spellucci -- What a wonderful memory! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Sorry about your friend. Rest in peace, Jim.
Thank you for another altar and history. And condolences on the loss of your friend. RIP Jim.
May Jim be remembered forever. We need to go back to Florence.
Wonderful way to remember a friend who has passed. Love everything about the altar.
I appreciate how cultures built on each other, and Menrva became Minerva. You did a beautiful job of commemorating your friend.
Rest in peace to your friend Jim. A beautiful memorial altar.
I am sorry to hear that your dear friend died. I love the comfort of his obituary and your tale of him...Jim's spirit is still here and now I have a bit of connection to him as well! Joy! ☺️
Beautiful antiques, and lovely memories with them I suppose.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Hello Debra, You should have kept on antiquing--you acquired some beautiful finds. I am sorry you lost a good friend--old friends are irreplaceable.
--Jim
So sorry to hear of your loss. I do love your altars - I'm out working tonight under the full moon and its also bonfire/Guy Fawkes night, asking Mani for protection tonight.
Dear Debra, this is such a lovely tribute ❤️ I am so sorry for your loss.
So hard to lose good friends. I hope you find him in the next phase of existence.
The altar is beautiful. All pieces of it resonate. xox
Fascinating!
I feel you -- losing loved ones. It seems like every time I turn around I learn about another friend who has passed away. This is life, eh? We have to find the joy and appreciate the people in our lives while we can.
RIP Jim.
You've created a beautiful and touching full moon altar that honours both Menra and your dear friend Jim.
Your altar to Menrva beautifully weaves together memory, art, and spirit, honouring both the goddess and your dear friend’s enduring love of Italy
I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s heartbreaking
Sorry about your friend. Yes, rest in peace.
@ DB Stewart -- He was his witty gay self to the end apparently. In palliative care, when informed his organs were shutting down, he said, "Well, isn't THAT inconvenient?"
I'm so sorry about the loss of your dear friend Jim.
This beautiful altar is compelling, Debra. It's the symmetry of form and color broken by the striking statue of Menrva that appeal to me. I'm sorry that you lost your friend, Jim. I'm glad that he had the opportunity to return to Italy and spend time there learning the language. Hugs to you!
Forgot it was the full moon. Again. I would be a lousy werewolf.
Friends live within us longer after we have taken different paths, and live within us long after they are gone.
Talk to him; he is within.
This is a lovely altar, I really like all the little bits and pieces you use for them.
I’m so sorry. Beautiful altar though.
Oh, Debra, I am so sorry to hear of your loss!
Hugs on the loss of a good friend!
What a stunning tribute to Menrva—warrior, artist, healer, and wisdom-bringer all in one. And sorry to hear about your friend's passing. May Jim rest in peace.
RIP to your friend. My condolences.
I love the Minerva statue and the bookends. I would have a whole collection of heavy bookends if only I still had a bunch of bookcases.
Dear Debra, I didn't know that Minerva, or Athena, had an Etruscan counterpart named Menrva. Your altar looks very harmonious – and indeed like a fitting premonition of the sad news you received...
Warmest regards from Austria,
Traude
What a beautiful alter. Tuscany is the one part of italy I would love to visit.
you always have such lovely altars.
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