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 598 MINGHETTI MINIATURE PAINTING name of Minerva she was adopted by the- Ro- mans. She was especially the national divin- ity of the Athenians, having in the reign of Cecrops contended with Neptune for the land, which she planted with the olive. On the Acropolis of Athens stood the magnificent temple of the Parthenon, dedicated to her, and containing her statue by Phidias ; and the sa- cred festival of the Panathensea was celebrated with great splendor in her honor. In the rep- resentations of sfrt, as in the events of her life, she remains the goddess of pure reason, raised above every feminine weakness, and disdain- ing love. The helmet, buckler, lance, and aegis were her attributes; and the olive branch, ser- pent, and owl were sacred to her. In the an- cient traditions she was represented as clothed usually in a sleeveless tunic, over which she threw a cloak, or folding peplus. MINGHETTI, Marco, an Italian statesman, born in Bologna, Sept. 8, 1818. He early became known as a lecturer on political economy and advocate of free trade, and as a journalist. In 1848 he was for a short time minister of pub- lic works at Rome, but he left the service of Pius IX. to enlist in the Sardinian army, in which he rose to be major. He assisted Oa- vour at the congress of Paris in 1856, and pub- lished in 1859 Delia economia pubblica e delle sue attinenze con la morale e col diritto. He was next secretary general in the ministry of foreign affairs, and subsequently, as a member and president of the assembly of the Romagnas, he was active in the annexation of those prov- inces to the dominions of Victor Emanuel. Afterward he represented Bologna in the na- tional parliament. Shortly before Cavour's death he became minister of the interior, and retained that office for a short time under Ricasoli. From 1863 to 1868 he was premier and minister of finance ; and after being min- ister to England he accepted in 1869 the port- folio of agriculture, and in 1873 succeeded Lanza as prime minister. In the elections of November, 1874, he was once more returned to parliament. He has been long engaged upon a work on Europe before the reformation. MINGRELIA, a district of Asiatic Russia, in the lieutenancy of the Caucasus, forming part of the government of Kutais, bordering on the Circassian districts, Imerethia, Guria, the Black sea, and Abkhasia; area, about 2,600 sq. m. ; pop. about 240,000, or, including Sua- nethi and Samurzakan (together 1,500 sq. m.), which are embraced in the same government, 280,000. The surface is generally mountainous, but slopes gradually to the south, particular- ly toward the Rion, its principal river. The climate is warm and damp, and fevers are prevalent. The soil is exceedingly fertile and vegetation rapid. The mountains are covered with magnificent forests, and much good land lies waste. The ^principal products are maize, wood, wax, and wool. Tobacco, rice, and mil- let are raised, and a good deal of silk, honey, and wine produced. There is an iron mine and a smelting furnace, and in 1865 gold was discovered in the valley of the Ingur. The district is without internal improvement, and has a savage and deserted appearance. The in- habitants belong mainly to the Georgian race, but are generally inferior in appearance to the mountaineers of the Caucasus. The dominant religion is that of the Greek church. Mingre- lia nearly corresponds with the ancient Col- chis. It was long a part of the kingdom of Georgia, was afterward independent under a 'line of native princes, and became subject to Russia in 1804 ; but its prince remained nom- inally sovereign till Jan. 17, 1867, when he ceded all his rights to the emperor of Russia in consideration of 1,000,000 rubles. On the W. coast the Russians have established the forts of Redut-Kaleh and Anaklia. MINHQ (Sp. MiHo; anc. Miniu a river of Spain and Portugal, which rises in the Sierra de Mondofiedo, in the province of Lugo, Gali- cia, a short distance S. of Mondofledo, flows first S. and then S. W., crosses the province of Orense, forms the boundary between the Span- ish province of Pontevedra and the Portuguese province of Minho, and falls into the Atlantic near Caminha, about 30 m. S. of Vigo. It is about 150 m. long, and is navigable for only a short distance from its mouth, being obstruct- ed by sand banks. It abounds in salmon and lampreys. Its principal tributaries are the Sil, which joins it on the left about 70 m. from its mouth, and the Avia on the right. The largest towns on its banks are Lugo and Orense in Spain. MINHO, or Entre Douro e Minho, the north- ernmost province of Portugal, bounded N. by the Spanish province of Pontevedra, from which it is separated by the Minho, N. E. by that of Orense, E. by the Portuguese prov- ince of Tras os Montes, S. by Beira, from which it is separated by the Douro, and W. by the Atlantic ; area, 2,807 sq. m. ; pop. in 1871, 971,000. It is a high table land inter- sected by several mountain ridges, running in a N. E. and S. W. direction, one of which rises to the height of nearly 8,000 feet. The prin- cipal rivers are the Lima, Cavado, and Ave, which flow into the sea, and the Tamega, an affluent of the Douro ; there are also numer- ous smaller rivers and streams, and the valleys are exceedingly fertile and well cultivated. The principal productions are wine, millet, oil, flax, cork, oranges, lemons, maize, wheat, bar- ley, and oats. The well known wine called port from Oporto, whence it is shipped, is almost wholly made in this province. Numer- ous herds graze the pastures, and the province is famous for its pork. The sea and rivers abound with fish, the capture of which affords employment to many of the inhabitants. The principal manufactures are linen, hats, and cutlery. The population of this province is the most intelligent and prosperous portion of the Portuguese people. Capital, Braga. MINIATURE PAINTING, a species of painting on a small scale, executed with water colors