Ancient shield illustration from Nordisk familjebok
In ancient Rome, the ancilia (Latin, singular ancile) were twelve sacred shields kept in the Temple of Mars. According to legend, one divine shield fell from heaven during the reign of Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome. He ordered eleven copies made to confuse would-be thieves, since the original shield was regarded as one of the pignora imperii (pledges of rule), sacred guarantors that perpetuated Rome as a sovereign entity.
The shields are identified by their distinct 'figure of eight' shape which is said to be derived from Mycenaean art.[1] As described by Plutarch, the shape of the ancile is a standard shield, neither round or oval, which has curved indentations on both sides.[2]
The ancilia were kept by the Salii, a body of twelve priests instituted for that purpose by Numa.[3] The Salii wielded them ritually in a procession throughout March. According to Varro, the ancilia may have also made an appearance in the Armilustrium (‘Purification of the Arms’) in October.[4] The Salii were said to beat their shields with staves while performing ritual dances and singing the Carmen Salire.[5]
This image depicts the five Ancilia being carriedThis image depicts the Ancilia being carried. The "figure-8" shape is seen clearly and each have a detailed design on them.
^Howatson, M. C. HowatsonM C. (2011-01-01), Howatson, M. C. (ed.), "ancī'lia", The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780199548545.001.0001, ISBN 978-0-19-954854-5, retrieved 2022-11-30
^Plutarch (1914). Lives, Volume I: Theseus and Romulus. Lycurgus and Numa. Solon and Publicola. Translated by Perrin, Bernadotte. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
^Livy, Ab urbe condita, 1:20
^Varro (1938). On the Latin Language, Volume I: Books 5-7. Translated by Kent, Roland G. Harvard University Press. p. 6.22.
^Bailey, Cyril; North, J. A. (2005), "Salii", The Oxford Classical Dictionary, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780198606413.001.0001, ISBN 978-0-19-860641-3, retrieved 2022-11-30
In ancient Rome, the ancilia (Latin, singular ancile) were twelve sacred shields kept in the Temple of Mars. According to legend, one divine shield fell...
Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014. "Ancile". www.deagel.com. http://www.defensa.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/download...
traditionally arranged in vertical stripes. The club’s historical badge is an ancile red palate, closed externally by a white crown, suitable to contain the...
1788-1790, Ancile Design, Kristinehamn 2013 ISBN 9789198119107 (in Swedish) Ulf Sundberg: Utkast till svenska historieverk : Ericus Olai - 2008, Ancile Design...
Army within the "SysFla" program. SPYDER – (Israel) "IRIS-T variants". Ancile. Retrieved 31 May 2023. "LFK NG missile for air defence, military systems"...
Wayback Machine, Ing.dk 13 September 2011. Accessed: 13 September 2011. "Ancile". Daegel. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 15 January...
Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk AVIC Cloud Shadow European MALE RPAS "Ancile". "В России начались летные испытания БПЛА "Альтаир"". Российская газета...
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would beat daggers on shields to create music. These shields were known as ancile. Other descriptions stated that used flutes to sing the songs. The Salii...
of the Mother of the Gods, the terracotta chariot of the Veientines, the ancile, the sceptre of Priam, the veil of Iliona, and the palladium. The ashes...
Research and Production Corporation Konstruktorskoye Byuro Mashynostroyeniya. "Ancile". Deagel.com. "Russian Helicopters Unveils Upgraded Mi-28NE Helicopter"...
thanks for the gift, and quickly brought about an end to the plague. The Ancile became a sacred relic of the Romans and was placed in the care of the Salii...
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace". Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. "Ancile". www.deagel.com. "ASLAV". Nautilus Institute. 19 December 2011. Retrieved...
Royal Saudi Navy". Naval News. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021. "Ancile". Deagel. Retrieved 2 August 2021. White, Ryan (22 July 2020). "Navantia...