aegis

aegis
/ee"jis/, n.
1. Class. Myth. the shield or breastplate of Zeus or Athena, bearing at its center the head of the Gorgon.
2. protection; support: under the imperial aegis.
3. sponsorship; auspices: a debate under the aegis of the League of Women Voters. Also, egis.
[1695-1705; < L < Gk aigís shield of Zeus or Athena, prob. from aig- (s. of aíx goat) + -is n. suffix, from a type of shield made of goatskin]
Syn. 3. patronage.

* * *

In ancient Greece, the leather cloak or breastplate associated with Zeus.

It was worn most prominently by Zeus's daughter Athena (whose aegis bore the head of Medusa) but occasionally also by other gods (e.g., Apollo in the Iliad).

* * *

▪ ancient Greek dress
also spelled  egis,  plural  aegises  or  egises  
 in ancient Greece, leather cloak or breastplate generally associated with Zeus, the king of the gods, and thus thought to possess supernatural power. Zeus's daughter Athena adopted the aegis for ordinary dress. Athena placed on her aegis a symbolic representation of the severed head of the Gorgon Medusa. The head itself had been a gift from the Gorgon's slayer, Perseus. Occasionally, another god used it—e.g., Apollo in the Iliad, where it provoked terror. As early as Homer the aegis was more than an ordinary goatskin cloak, for it was decorated with golden tassels. A stout hide of this sort could turn a blow, like a buffcoat, and thus it often appears as armour. Later, after improvised armour of this type went out of use, it was occasionally thought of as a metal corselet.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Aegis — (pronEng|ˈiːdʒɨs) has entered modern English to mean a shield, protection, or sponsorship, originally from the name of the mythological protective shield of Zeus. The name has been extended to many other entities, and the concept of a protective… …   Wikipedia

  • AEGIS — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Miembros de una tripulación monitorean el radar del centro de información a bordo del crucero USS VINCENNES (CG 49). El sistema de combate AEGIS es un sistema integrado de guía de misiles de la Armada de los Estados… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Aégis — Студийный альбом …   Википедия

  • Aégis — Album par Theatre of Tragedy Sortie 1998 Enregistrement 1998 Durée 49:57 Genre Gothic metal Label Massacre Rec …   Wikipédia en Français

  • AEGIS — ist: die griechische (und lateinische, als Lehnwort aus dem Griechischen) Bezeichnung für den Schild der griechischen Götter Zeus und Athene, siehe Aigis; ein elektronisches Waffensystem, siehe Aegis Kampfsystem; ein Authentifizierungsprotokoll… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Aegis — AEGIS, ĭdos, Gr. Ἀιγὶς, ίδος, war ein ganz ungeheueres Thier, welches die Erde hervor brachte. Es spie aus seinem Rachen lauter Feuer, und verbrannte damit ganz Phrygien. Von da wendete es sich auf den Berg Caucasus und verbrannte dessen Wälder… …   Gründliches mythologisches Lexikon

  • Aegis — ist: die griechische (und lateinische, als Lehnwort aus dem Griechischen) Bezeichnung für den Schild der griechischen Götter Zeus und Athene, siehe Aigis; ein altägyptischer Halsschmuck, siehe Ägis (Halsschmuck); ein elektronisches Waffensystem,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • AEgis — [AE] gis, n. [L. aegis, fr. Gr. ? a goat skin, a shield, ? goat, or fr. ? to rush.] A shield or protective armor; applied in mythology to the shield of Jupiter which he gave to Minerva. Also fig.: A shield; a protection. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • aegis — (n.) protection, 1793, from L. aegis, from Gk. Aigis, the name of the shield of Zeus, said by Herodotus to be related to aix (gen. aigos) goat, from PIE *aig goat (Cf. Skt. ajah, Lith. ozys he goat ), as the shield was of goatskin. Athene s aigis …   Etymology dictionary

  • aegis — I noun advocacy, aid, auspices, backing, care, championship, countenance, custody, defense, encouragement, fosterage, guaranty, guard, guidance, influence, interest, patronage, protection, safeguard, safekeeping, shelter, shield, sponsorship,… …   Law dictionary

  • Aegis —   [lateinisch], griechischer Mythos: Aigis …   Universal-Lexikon

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”