"You can enjoy the grandeur of Greek architectural monuments not only in Greece," decided the President of Guatemala, Estrada Cabrera, and built several temples on the territory of his country in honor of the goddess of wisdom Minerva. The President was so passionate about Hellenic culture and especially the goddess that he actively promoted the cult of Minerva in Guatemala and built shrines in her honor.

The first Greek-style temple was built in the capital of Guatemala in 1901. It was used to celebrate the Day of the Goddess. It was called the Palace of Science and was both a temple and a stage for theatrical performances. Under other rulers, the sanctuary hosted cultural events. And in 1953, during the rule of President Jacobo Árbenz, it was decided to demolish the building.

While President Estrada Cabrera was enjoying the temple in the capital, the country's regions also actively erected religious buildings in their cities. They all had the same solid construction and friezes with Greek allegorical figures, completely painted white and devoid of any decorative ornaments. Inside the buildings, there was free space, which was typical for the Greco-Roman architecture of those times. Like the Acropolis in Athens, new temples in Guatemalan cities were built on the hills. They served as the stage for theatrical performances of "the Passion of Christ" during Catholic Easter.

Almost all the churches have been abandoned and destroyed after the end of the rule of Estrada Cabrera. Only a few temples have survived to this day. One of them is the temple of Minerva, built in the city of Huehuetenango in 1903. It was restored by the Department of Public Works in 1986.

Today, the Temple of Minerva, which is more than a hundred years old, is not only one of the main attractions of the city, but also the venue for all significant cultural events in Huehuetenango.