Ceiling of the Council Chamber

A woman attired as Minerva and seated on the wings of an eagle holds the caduceus with its all-seeing eye in her right hand. In her left hand she holds a mirror in which she is reflected. An angel of peace holds a laurel wreath over Minerva’s head. Behind it is another angel with a sheaf of arrows, symbolising unity. To the left of Minerva is a woman holding the tablets of stone and a trumpet. Below the eagle are various personifications. A woman with a snake biting its own tail stands for time. Next to her, a woman with a column symbolises steadfastness. To her right, another woman, this time with a lyre, represents poetry and musical harmony. Temperance holds a bridle and a water jar. On the cloud below her is Justice, a woman with a set of scales and a sword. On the other side is Charity, a breast-feeding woman.

Additional information:
Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, holds the attributes of Justice (the all-seeing eye), Mercury (the caduceus) and Prudence (the mirror). As the symbol of wisdom and foresight, Minerva is above Prudence. The eagle on which she is sitting is the symbol of Jupiter, the king of the gods, who holds wisdom in high regard. Prudence stands for another kind of wisdom: common sense. The other symbols represent the benefits of wisdom in terms of justice and peace. Minerva’s crown of olive branches shows that wisdom is the victor and brings unity. The women around her showed the council members who met here what wisdom could achieve. Hovering overhead are the tablets of stone inscribed with the Ten Commandments that every wise person should obey and that ensure good conduct. Below the goddess, the woman with the snake indicates that wisdom is eternal. Wisdom makes people steadfast (the column), harmonious (the lyre), self-controlled (the bridle) and chaste (the jar of water to extinguish the flames of passion). In the lowest tier, Justice reappears, accompanied by Charity, who nourishes those in need.