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Photograph: A black round Italian shield of about 1560. A tangled scene of figures occupies the center, with round medallions holding busts around it, all in relief.
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ArchiveGreek · Armor
Aegis
Aegis (Αἰγίς)
Shaken, it raises storms and sends enemy armies fleeing in terror.
- Owner
- Zeus, Athena
- Maker
- Hephaestus, in some traditions
- First record
- Homer, Iliadc. 750 BCE
- Gallery
- Greek
Notes on the photograph 4
Story
In the Iliad the aegis is a piece of war gear that raises thunder and dark clouds when Zeus shakes it. Athena and Apollo also borrow it and carry it into battle. A hundred golden tassels hung from its edges.
It is described sometimes as a goatskin cloak and sometimes as a shield. Athena on Greek vase paintings covers her shoulders with a leather cape fringed with snakes. When Perseus gave her Medusa's head, Athena set it in the center of the aegis, and from then on enemies who saw it froze where they stood.
The English phrase "under the aegis of," meaning under someone's protection, comes from this shield.
The object in the photo
The photograph shows Embossed Shield(Italian, ca. 1560), a real museum object that evokes the legendary artifact.
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