Minerva, the mythic Minerva was the Roman equivalent of Athena, the goddess of war. To approach that goddess in the wrong way was likened to a moth flying into a candle flame. Perhaps, that is why we fear Minerva. The condensation of her anger makes us afraid---afraid that we will be found out, that we will act out, and that forces within and without can blow out the candle of our own life, and there is nothing that we can do about it. Fate can cut the string at any time, and put us in touch with our own terrible nature, called forth against our will.