{{era|AC2|Brotherhood|Renaissance|bbook|TWCB}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Minerva
|image = Minerva V.png
|imgdesc = Minerva's in-game model
|faction = [[Those Who Came Before]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' (in flashback)
|voice = [[Margaret Easley]]}}

{{quote|Here sits the king of all Olympus, and beside him stands Wisdom, to guide his rule.|Minerva's and [[Jupiter]]'s [[Monteriggioni Statuettes|statuette]] description.|Assassin's Creed II}}

'''Minerva''', previously known as both '''Merva''', '''Mera''' or Athena''' '''and so on, was one of the many members of [[Those Who Came Before]].

==Message in the Vault==
Minerva appeared as a hologram figure within [[Vatican Vault|The Vault]], and revealed little of the origin of [[Humans|humanity]] within her people's history.<ref name="ac2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' - [[In Bocca Al Lupo]]</ref>

Minerva explained how humans came to be, what the [[Pieces of Eden]] were for, and why her people no longer control the humans, or even exist at all. She stated the purpose of the vaults built across the planet, and explained of the disaster that Earth once suffered. She referred to [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]] as the "prophet," and during most of her appearance, she spoke to someone Ezio could not see, thus confusing him. She then clarified that she was not speaking ''with'' him, but ''through'' him.<ref name="ac2"/>

Minerva apparently knew that [[Desmond Miles]] would one day relive Ezio's memories, as she seemingly addressed the camera (or Desmond's perception of the scene through the [[Animus]]) throughout her monologue, and concluded by saying, "the rest is up to you... Desmond," much to his ancestor's confusion. As Ezio tried to ask Minerva who Desmond was, her hologram disappeared, leaving Ezio with all of his questions unanswered.<ref name="ac2"/>

==Dialogue==
(After entering [[Vatican Vault|The Vault]], and walking to the back of the chamber)

'''Minerva:''' (to Ezio) ''Greetings, prophet. It is good you have come. Let us see it. To give thanks.''

(Ezio shows the Apple of Eden to Minerva, who 'scans' it)

'''Minerva:''' (to Desmond) ''We must speak.''

'''Ezio:''' ''Who are you?''

'''Minerva:''' (to Ezio) ''Many names. When I died, it was Minerva. Before that Merva, and Mera. And on and on. The others, too: [[Juno]], who was before called Uni; [[Jupiter]], who was before called Tinia.''

'''Ezio:''' ''You are... gods.''

[[File:Ezios_and_Minervas_Talk.jpg|thumb|right|Minerva speaking with Ezio Auditore in The Vault]]
'''Minerva:''' (laughs) ''No. Not gods. We simply came... before. Even when we walked the world, your kind struggled to understand our existence. We were more... advanced in time. Your minds were not yet ready.'' (turns to camera/Desmond) ''Still not, maybe never. No matter. You may not comprehend us. But you will comprehend our warning. You must.''

'''Ezio:''' ''None of what you are saying makes sense.''

'''Minerva:''' (to Ezio) ''Our words are not meant for you.''

'''Ezio:''' ''What are you talking about? There is no one else here!''

'''Minerva:''' ''Enough! I do not wish to speak with you, but through you. You are the prophet. You've played your part. You anchor him, but please be silent! That we may commune.''

'''Minerva:''' (to Desmond) ''Listen. When we were still flesh, and our homes still whole, your kind betrayed us. We who made you. We who gave you life! We were strong. But you were many. And both of us craved war. So busy were we with earthly concerns, we failed to notice the heavens. And by the time we did... the world burned and naught remained but ash. It should have ended then and there. But we built you in our own image. We built you to survive. And so you did. Few were our numbers. Your kind and mine. It took sacrifice. Strength. Compassion. But we rebuilt. And as life returned to the world... We endeavored to ensure this tragedy would not be repeated.''

''But now we are dying. And time will work against us. Truth turned into myth and legend. What we build, misunderstood. Let my words preserve the message and make a record of our loss. But let my words also bring hope. You must find the other temples. Built by those who knew to turn away from war. They worked to protect us - to save us from the fire. If you can find them... If their work can be saved... so too might this world. Be quick, for time grows short. And guard against [[Templars|the Cross]], for there are many who will stand in your way.''

''It is done. The message is delivered. We are gone from this world. All of us. We can do no more. The rest is up to you, Desmond.''

'''Ezio:''' ''What? Who is Desmond? I don't understand! Please, wait! I have so many questions!''

(Minerva disappears)

'''Desmond:''' ''What. The. Fuck?''

==Trivia==
*Minerva is the Roman goddess of wisdom, battle strategy, art, commerce, weaving among other things.<ref name="wikipedia">Wikipedia article on [[wikipedia:Minerva|Minerva]]</ref> Minerva has Etruscan roots, linking her to Menvra,<ref name="menrva">Wikipedia article on [[wikipedia:Menrva|Menrva]]</ref> another name Minerva mentions as one she was once known by. Minerva is equaled with the Greek goddess Athena in both characteristics and personality, as the Roman belief has been heavily influenced by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_mythology Greek mythology].
*Minerva is also one of the statuettes that must be collected and placed on a pedestal with her "partner" [[Jupiter]], at the [[Villa Auditore]].
*Minerva's knowledge of Desmond reliving Ezio's memories implies Those Who Came Before could see the future.
*Minerva's name root (Proto-Indo-European ''mn-'' and Latin ''men-'') links her to memory, remembrance, or recollection, which is what her role is in the game (in helping the Assassins, or humanity, remember their past). This parallels [[Juno]]'s role in her name, which means "to warn."
*Minerva, of the Roman mythology, equates with the Greek goddess Athena.
*Minerva mentions two others, [[Juno]] and [[Jupiter]]; these and Minerva are part of the [[wikipedia:Capitoline Triad|Capitoline Triad]].
*In the novel [[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]], Minerva is seen in the vault with an owl on her shoulder. The symbol of the owl is frequently associated with the goddess Minerva in ancient Greek architecture.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACII}}
{{ACBrotherhood}}

[[ru:Минерва]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters]]
[[Category:Those Who Came Before]]
[[Category:Mythological Characters]]

2011-08-23T20:26:53Z

85.75.190.155: Hera is the original name Juno is known with in Roman Religion

{{era|brotherhood|bbook|twcb}}
{{WP-REAL|Juno_(mythology)}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Juno
|image = Juno.jpg
|imgdesc = Juno's in-game model
|hideb = yes
|faction = [[Those Who Came Before]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''
|voice = [[Nadia Verrucci]]
}}
'''Juno''', also known as '''Uni''' or '''Hera''', was a member of the [[First Civilization]]. She was seen in the [[Santa Maria Aracoeli]] and in the [[Colosseum Vault]] in a holographic form.

==Biography==
Juno appeared four times as a holographic form to [[Desmond Miles]], a modern day [[Assassins|Assassin]], as he completed the path through the Colosseum.<ref name="acBrotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' video game</ref>

She appeared first as Desmond passed through the first hidden entrance, second while Desmond was approaching the next hidden entrance, third after he flipped the switch inside the Santa Maria Aracoeli, and finally inside the Vault itself.<ref name="acBrotherhood"/>

Juno further expanded and elaborates on [[Minerva]]'s warning to [[Ezio Auditore]], though her tone and dialogue were noticeably more hostile towards humanity than Minerva's. Once Desmond, [[Lucy Stillman]], [[Shaun Hastings]] and [[Rebecca Crane]] reached [[Sixth Apple|the Apple]]'s location in the Vault, Juno forcefully took control of Desmond, causing him to stab Lucy with his [[Hidden Blade]], against his will.<ref name="acBrotherhood"/>

==Dialogue==
After passing through the first hidden entrance:

'''Juno:''' ''We commit this space to the epilogue of our ending. Let it be found by he who is deemed worthy. Let it guide him. Let it shape his path forward. Let it save the world we left behind.''

'''Desmond:''' ''Who are you?''

After approaching the second hidden entrance:

'''Juno:''' ''In the beginning, we set our truths to parchment. To stone. To the memory of men. These proved impermanent things. Cleansed by fire. Cleansed by famine. Cleansed by flood. All the world is innocent once more. Innocent and ignorant.''

After flipping the switch inside the Santa Maria Aracoeli:

'''Juno:''' ''We did not build them to be wise. And now they are our final, faulted hope. You are they. You possess the potential for understanding. But you broke [[Pieces of Eden|our tools]]. Or turned them against one another. We have destroyed what we could. Sealed away what we could not. Most. Not all. And it does not take many to unwind the world. Here is a [[Temples|safe place]]. Eternal. To store objects. Words. Wisdom. But not life. Almost did we have [[The Shroud|the means]]. But time... time erodes us. We can distract him. We can see past him. Feint left when he strikes right. But his reach is so very long. His stamina unending. We cannot evade his grasp. Not forever.''

After entering the vault beneath the Santa Maria Aracoeli:

[[File:ACB-Juno.jpg|thumb|250px|Juno in the Vault.]]
'''Juno:''' ''A hundred years I might speak and still you would not know us. You with five senses. Us with six. The one we kept from you. To be safe. Now, you can never know. Only try. Grasp. You can SEE. SMELL. TASTE. TOUCH. HEAR. Knowledge has been locked away. After, when the world became undone, we tried to pass it through the blood. Tried to join you with us. You [[Eagle Vision|see the blue shimmer]]. You hear the words. But you do not know! WE SHOULD HAVE LEFT YOU AS YOU WERE! It is hard to stay contained. Knowing as we do. We wait for you, Desmond. You will come here. You will activate it. You will know only when it is too late.''

After activating the Apple:

'''Desmond:''' ''What's happening? I can't move!''

'''Juno:''' ''Your DNA communes with the Apple. You have activated it.''

'''Desmond:''' ''Let me go!''

'''Juno:''' ''On the 72nd day before the moment of awakening. You, birthed from our loins and the loins of [[Humans|our enemies]]. The end and the beginning, who we abhor and honor. The final journey commences. There is one who would accompany you through the gate. She lies not within our sight. [[Templars|The cross]] darkens the horizon.''

'''Desmond:''' ''What are you doing?''

'''Juno:''' ''The Path must be opened. You cannot escape your part in this. The scales shall be balanced.''

'''Desmond:''' ''Stop. Please...''

'''Juno:''' ''You know very little. We must guide you. Cease your struggle.''

'''Desmond:''' ''No!'' (Desmond stabs Lucy in the stomach)

'''Juno:''' ''It is done. The way lies all before you. Only she remains to be found. Awaken the sixth. Go. ALONE!''<ref name="acBrotherhood"/>

==Trivia==
[[File:Santa_Maria_Aracoeli_7.png|thumb|250px|The entrance to the [[Colosseum Vault]].]]
*Juno isn't actually named in the game, but her name does appear during the end credits.<ref name="acBrotherhood"/>
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', Minerva speaks of two "others," Juno and [[Jupiter]]. These two and Minerva are part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitoline_Triad Capitoline Triad], a trio of Roman Gods.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{ACBH}}

[[ru:Джуно]]
[[Category:Those Who Came Before]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Mythological Characters]]