Aegis - what is it? This token is often found in media reports when expressions such as “under the auspices of the UN”, “under the auspices of UNESCO” or some other structure are used. Intuitively, you can guess what is meant by protection, patronage. But here what exactly means this "aegis", few know.
Mythological beginning
In the dictionary, as a rule, two interpretations of the studied object are given. One of the meanings of aegis is the shield that the ancient Greek gods had, such as Zeus, Athena, Apollo.
Examples of the use of the word:
- Example 1. The supreme ancient Greek deity, Zeus, using the auspices of the menacing storm, is compared with the head of the Slavic pantheon, Perun, the god of Thunderer.
- Example 2. Among the attributes of Zeus were such as a shield (aegis), an eagle, a scepter, a hammer, a two-sided ax, and also lightning - a type of material weapon, which was a pitchfork with two or three prongs. In Baroque painting, the latter were depicted in the form of a bundle of flames that could be in the claws of an eagle.
- Example 3. Zeus had a large number of epithets, for example, Boulevard (giving good advice, patronizing), Herkey (keeper of the outbreak), Ares (warlike), Aristarchus (the best ruler), Gikesius (patron of the supplicants), Milichiy (gracious), Aegioch (wearing auspices) and others.
- Example 4. The ancient Greek goddess Athena of wisdom and war (among the Romans - Minerva, among the Etruscans - Menfra) had such attributes as a spear, helmet, snakes, aegis.
Figuratively
The second version of the interpretation, used in a figurative sense, suggests that aegis is the support, patronage of some powerful force or the action within an influential institution. Usually, the phrase “under the auspices” is used, that is, under the shield, under protection. Quite often, lawyers call the collegium “Aegis”, thereby associating the organization’s activities with a shield and emphasizing the essence of their noble profession - to protect the rights of people from abuse of power and lenders.
Example 1. In this place there are many cultural sites that are under the auspices of UNESCO, which you can visit completely freely.
Example 2. The press service reported that the football tournament will be held under the auspices of UEFA.
Example 3. The group of negotiators felt rather confident, as they were under the auspices of powerful patrons operating at the federal level.
Example 4. From the history of diplomacy it is known that Bismarck back in the mid-50s. He foresaw that he would have to fight with Austria, since it was opposed to Germany being united under the auspices of Prussia.
Connection with the divine goat
The very meaning of “aegis”, which in ancient Greek looks like αἰγίς, is interpreted as “goat skin”. It was formed from the noun αἶξ - “goat”, which, in turn, descended from the pre-Indo-European basis aig.
The connection of the "aegis" with the "goat" is explained by ancient Greek myths, which tell us that Zeus on the island of Crete was fed by a divine goat - Amalfei. The literal translation is “gentle goddess”. This happened at the time when Rhea, the titanide, the mother of the Olympic gods, was hiding little Zeus from his father Kronos, who was absorbing his children.
Hide shield
After the death of the goat, the god of blacksmithing, Hephaestus, created a shield from her very durable skin, which was indestructible and served as a reliable defense of Zeus in his fight against the titans.
This shield, terrifying others, and began to be called auspices. At its center was a head attached to it, belonging to the gorgon Medusa. Thus, the divine goat and after death gave Zeus reliable protection.
And also with this shield, the chief Olympian heaved formidable storms. According to myths, Zeus the cloud collector threw lightning with his right hand, and with his left hand he shook the aegis hung with a hundred brushes and framed by the horror of confusion.
According to another version, the shield of Zeus was made by Athena not from the skin of a goat, but from the skin of a monster, which was born by the goddess Gaia (earth). According to legends, Athena, the daughter of Zeus, like Apollo, wore aegis as part of their attire also with the head of the gorgon Medusa attached to the shield (sometimes to the cloak).