Early morning, March 19th, 700 years since the Founding...

Romans across the city awoke to the sound of great trumpets. At every gate appeared trumpet players, gowned and masked with the white porcelein of the Goddess. Behind them, marching in procession were the flutes, sacred to Minerva, the foundress of the art. Excited school children rushed out to greet the entourage; It was a holiday for them, for Minerva was their patron. Together they made their way to her Temple on the Aventine Hill, where the flutes, horns and trumpets were to be purified. There the Pontifex Maximus waited.

Lucius Caecilius Cinna, resplendent in the blue and red stripes of his office, raised his hands high in offering before the statue of the Goddess.

"Dea Minerva, before you we make this offering. I sincerely pray that you will look kindly on the People. We ask for your blessing."

Cinna then turned quickly, and let his sacrificial knife fall upon the goat before the altar. "Minerva, macte esto!"

"People of Rome," cried the Pontifex Maximus, turning now to the crowd which has gathered, "It is the first day of the Festival of Minerva. Let the feast begin!"