This minor planet was named after the female personification of the virtue of prudence, from Roman myth. Sometimes she hangs out with Justitia, talking about whatever it is that psuedo-religious philosophical personifications talk about, I presume. The symbol of this minor planet is derived from the two implements that she holds in most artistic depictions of her: a mirror, here represented by a small circle, and a snake, here a curved head on the top right of the circle and a downward Mercurian half-arc on the other side. I don't really know why these two objects are so ubiquitously associated with her, but I can speculate as to their meaning. The mirror probably represents reflection, of course; specifically the self-reflection associated with caution and prudence. The snake may represent wisdom, or maybe her grip on it represents a dominance over instinct and impulsive action. |
474 Prudentia
page revision: 6, last edited: 29 Jan 2022 09:32
Post preview:
Close preview