Schifanoia Palace, east wall, month of March: “Triumph of Minerva”. Fresco by Francesco del Cossa (1468-1470).The goddess is seated on a throne pulled by white unicorns, symbols of purity. The divinity is proposed here as the goddess of justice and, following Manilius's Astronomica, as protector of the sign of Aries. Her protection is extended to the arts and female tasks, as evidenced by the group of scholars on the left and the women intent on spinning and weaving on the right. This last presence was also interpreted as an exaltation of Borso, who had favoured the introduction of silk processing in Ferrara and promoted textile activities.
