Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara

Statue of Minerva
The statue in 2011
ArtistJoaquín Arias
Year1957
MediumBronze sculpture
SubjectMinerva
Dimensions11 m (36 ft)
Weight4.5 t
LocationGuadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Coordinates20°40′27″N 103°23′14″W / 20.67417°N 103.38722°W / 20.67417; -103.38722

A statue of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare (colloquially known as La Minerva), stands in a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, Mexico. The bronze sculpture rests on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens of the city. Depicted with Indigenous facial features, Minerva holds a spear and a shield. The pedestal also bears the phrase: "May justice, wisdom and strength guard this loyal city". Although initially criticized by residents, the monument has since become a symbol of Guadalajara.

Description and history

Details of the statue, with the slogan and historical names written below
Full view of the La Minerva roundabout.

The statue was built between 1956 and 1957 at the request of Jalisco governor Agustín Yáñez. Representing Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, the monument was part of Yáñez's vision to have Guadalajara recognized as the "Athens of Mexico".[1] It was unveiled on 15 September 1957.[2]

It is a bronze sculpture created by Joaquín Arias and Pedro Medina Guzmán, who cast it in Aguascalientes,[2] with architect Julio de la Peña responsible for the overall design.[3] Minerva is depicted wearing a Late Roman ridge helmet and a goatskin aegis across her chest. She holds a spear in her right hand and a shield in her left.[2] Her face has Indigenous facial traits as Arias modified the original project, which had called for a Greek figure.[1] He modelled the statue on photographs of notable women from Jalisco.[4] though a rumor claims the face was based on the wife of Yáñez.[1] The project cost Mex$1,250,000, of which $75,000 went to Arias.[4]

Symbolically, Minerva guards the city.[3] The statue is 8 meters (26 ft) tall[3] and weights 4.5 metric tons (4.4 long tons; 5.0 short tons).[2] At her feet, the following slogan is written: "Justicia, Sabiduría y Fortaleza, custodian a esta leal Ciudad" (transl. May justice, wisdom and strength, guard this loyal city).[2][3] The pedestal is 25 meters (82 ft) long and 3 meters (9.8 ft) high is inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens:[2][3]

The statue is hollow, and in 2021 it underwent restoration after cracks were found in its spear, knee, and torso.[4]

Reception

Initially, the statue was unfavorably received by the city's inhabitants, who felt it did not appropriately represent the goddess. Over time, however, public opinion shifted, and it has become a popular landmark in Guadalajara.[1][3][5] Historian Bettina Monti Colombani recorded a contemporary remark stating: "If the painting of statues in this fashion continues, it won't be long before we have the Autochthon Minerva transformed into the 'green Indian'".[a] Monti Colombani also noted that the first time the statue was embraced by the public was in 1987, when fans of C.D. Guadalajara gathered there to celebrate a team victory and attempted to dress the statue in the club's shirt.[4]

Notes

  1. ^ Quote in Spanish: "Si se sigue la pintura de estatuas en esta guisa, no tardará mucho el día que tengamos la 'India verde' en la Minerva Autóctona".[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Velázquez, Yenzi (18 August 2016). "La Minerva, polémica desde su origen" [La Minerva, controversial since its inception]. Diario NTR (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "La Minerva Guadalajara". Patronato Histórico. Government of Mexico. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Conoce la historia de La Minerva, el emblemático monumento de Guadalajara" [Discover the history of La Minerva, Guadalajara's iconic monument]. El Heraldo de México (in Spanish). 23 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e Monti Colombani, Bettina (20 January 2021). "La Minerva". El Ciudadano Jalisco (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  5. ^ "La Minerva, insignia de la Guadalajara cosmopolita" [La Minerva, emblem of cosmopolitan Guadalajara]. Informador.mx (in Spanish). Guadalajara. 14 February 2017. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
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