Aegis

This article is about the shield used by Zeus in Greek mythology. For other uses, see Aegis (disambiguation).
The aegis on the Lemnian Athena of Phidias, represented by a cast at the Pushkin Museum

The aegis (/ˈiːdʒɪs/ EE-jis;[1] Ancient Greek: αἰγίς aigís), as stated in the Iliad, is a device carried by Athena and Zeus, variously interpreted as an animal skin or a shield and sometimes featuring the head of a Gorgon. There may be a connection with a deity named Aex, a daughter of Helios and a nurse of Zeus or alternatively a mistress of Zeus (Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 13).[2]

The modern concept of doing something "under someone's aegis" means doing something under the protection of a powerful, knowledgeable, or benevolent source. The word aegis is identified with protection by a strong force with its roots in Greek mythology and adopted by the Romans; there are parallels in Norse mythology and in Egyptian mythology as well,[citation needed] where the Greek word aegis is applied by extension.

  1. ^ "aegis". Oxford Dictionary. Lexico. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hammond was invoked but never defined (see the help page).