object

Ancile

Objects · Rituals · Traditions

A named sacred shield of Roman Mars-cult, one of twelve in later priestly speech. Not the aegis, and not a generic shield.

Roman religion

  • Ancile appears in Roman religion.

    Virgil’s Aeneid has Picus hold the ancile, the sacred shield of Roman story, beside the Quirinal lituus. A named cult-shield in that epic, not aegis, not chimalli, and not a generic oval.

    from Virgil · Aeneid, 19 BCE (unfinished at the poet’s death)

    appears in · sourced · documented

sources

  • Aeneid · Virgil

    Virgil, Aeneid.