Glorieta La Minerva is a crossroads in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, the capital of the state of Jalisco, and deservedly considered one of the main attractions of this city.
This monument was erected in 1956 and sits on a 3m high plinth. The names of 18 outstanding personalities who made a significant contribution to the development of the city are immortalized on this pedestal. The monument rises above a large round fountain with a diameter of 74 meters, which is the central part of this roundabout.
The time this monument was unveiled coincided with the decision of the then governor of Jalisco, Agustín Yáñez, to use Roman symbolism, namely the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Athena, to give Guadalajara the nickname “Athens of Mexico“. The usual attributes of this goddess are accompanied by an owl and a snake. The last symbol is shown in the photo below on the right, between the image of Minerva and the round shield she holds.