A dictionary of Greek and Roman . themselves greatly on therich and splendid ornaments of their shields, theysupposed the aegis to be adorned in a style cor-responding to the might and majesty of the fatherof the gods. In the middle of it was fixed theappalling Gorgons head v. 741), and itsborder was surrounded with golden tassels(dvcravoi), each of which was worth a hecatomb(ii. 446—449). In the figures above exhibited,the serpents of the Gorgons head are transferredto the border of the skin. By the later poets and artists, the original con-ception of the aegis appears to have b
A dictionary of Greek and Roman . themselves greatly on therich and splendid ornaments of their shields, theysupposed the aegis to be adorned in a style cor-responding to the might and majesty of the fatherof the gods. In the middle of it was fixed theappalling Gorgons head v. 741), and itsborder was surrounded with golden tassels(dvcravoi), each of which was worth a hecatomb(ii. 446—449). In the figures above exhibited,the serpents of the Gorgons head are transferredto the border of the skin. By the later poets and artists, the original con-ception of the aegis appears to have been for-gotten or disregarded. They represent it as abreast-plate covered with metal in the form ofscales, not used to support the shield, but extend-ing equally on both sides from shoulder toshoulder ; as in the annexed figure, taken from astatue at Florence. With this appearance the descriptions of theaegis by the Latin poets generally correspond.(Virg. Aen. viii. 435—438 ; Val. Flacc. vi. 174 ;Sid. Apoll. Carm. 15 ; Sil. Ital. ix. 442.). It is remarkable that, although the aegis pro-perly belonged to Zeus, yet we seldom find it asan attribute of Zeus in works of art. There is,however, in the museum at Leyden, a marble statueof Zeus, found at Utica, in which the aegis hangsover his left shoulder. The annexed figure is takenfrom an ancient cameo. Zeus is here representedwith the aegis wrapt round the fore part of hisleft arm. The shield is placed underneath it, athis feet.
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Keywords: ., bookauthorsmithwilliam18131893, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840
