Noun

(en-noun)

A mythological shield associated with Zeus and Athena shown as a short cloak consisting of a goatskin. The aegis of Athena is usually shown with a border of snakes and with the head of Medusa in the center. The aegis is more an emblem of protection and power than an actual military shield.

Protection, guidance. Usually used as ‘under the aegis’ because of its origin as protection of the shield of Athena.

Endorsement.

Sponsorship.

Noun

(aspides)

A type of round shield borne by ancient Greek soldiers

* {{quote-book, 1963, William Kurtz Wimsatt, What to Say About a Poem and Other Essays citation

, passage="shield both large and tough" has never said that aspides are small and weak

(archaic) An asp or generic venomous snake

* {{quote-book, 1588, , Pandosto: The Triumph of Time, chapter=The History of Dorastus and Fawnia, year_published=1907 citation

, passage=Flesh dipped in the sea Ægeum will never be sweet; the herb Trigion being once bit with an aspis never groweth, and conscience once stained with innocent blood is always tied to a guilty remorse.}}

(palynology) A prominent ring of thickened exine around a pore on a pollen grain

* {{quote-book, 1974, Eugene Cecil Ogden, Manual for Sampling Airborne Pollen citation

, passage=As might be expected, characters of the aspides themselves are not of much value in pollen identification, but they are easily recognized and many three-pored, aspidate grains are broadly categorized as "betuloid" in studies of airborne pollen.}}