Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Ancile

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

ANCI'LE (τὸ ἀγκύλιον). The sacred shield found, according to tradition in the palace of Numa, and supposed to have fallen from heaven. According to the grammarians, it was made of bronze, and of an oblong oval shape, but with a semicircular incavation on each side, similar to that on the top of the pelta (Varro, L. L. vii. 43. Festus. s. v. Mamur.), as seen in the illustration (Ancile/1.1) from a medal of Augustus, which also has a representation of the Salian apex by its side. The name ancile is evidently formed from the Greek ἀγκύλη, the bend of the arm, which the grammarians above cited refer to the incision on the sides of the shield; but it is clearly referable to the semicircular handle (compare ANSA and ANSATUS), affixed to the top for the purpose of suspending it on the rod by which it was carried through the city by the Salii, as seen in the annexed woodcut (Ancile/1.2) from an engraved gem, in which the curvature of the sides is much less pronounced, and the general form more consonant with the language of Ovid (Fast. iii. 377.): Idque ancile vocat, quod ab omni parte recisum est; Quaque notes oculis, angulus omnis abest, which can scarcely be taken as a description of the figure on the medal of Augustus; a figure which it is probable was invented by the designer of the medal, in conformity with the received derivation of the Roman antiquaries; or perhaps the effects of age have modified the form, and made the indentures appear more prominent and decisive than they were in its early state.

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  Ancile/1.1
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  Ancile/1.2