ἀσπίς

A. shield, εὔκυκλος Il. 14.428, al.; κυκλοτερής Hdt. 1.194; ἀσπίδος κύκλος A. Th. 489; ὀμφαλόεσσα Il. 4.448, al.; opp. Thracian πέλτη and Persian γέρρον, X. An. 2.1.6, Mem. 3.9.2; ἀσπίδα ῥῖψαι, ἀποβαλεῖν, Anacr. 28, Ar. V. 19, cf. Hdt. 5.95: to estimate a victory, ἀσπίδας ἔλαβον ὡς διακοσίας X. HG 1.2.3: metaph., οὗτος γὰρ ἡμῖν ἀ. οὐ μικρὰ θράσους A. Ag. 1437; τὴν ἀ. ἀποβέβληκεν τοῦ βίον Nicostr. Com.29, cf. Lib. Or. 62.47.

2. collective, body of men-at-arms, ὀκτακισχιλίη ἀ. Hdt. 5.30, cf. E. Ph. 78, X. An. 1.7.10.

3. military phrases, ἐπ’ ἀσπίδας πέντε καὶ εἴκοσι τάξασθαι to be drawn up twenty-five deep or in file, Th. 4.93; στρατιὰν τεταγμένην οὐκ ἐπ’ ὀλίγων ἀσπίδων Id. 7.79; ἵστασθαι ἐπὶ τρεῖς ἀσπίδας Ar. Fr. 66; ἐπὶ μιᾶς ἀσπίδος in single line, Isoc. 6.99; ἐπ’ ἀσπίδα, παρ’ ἀσπίδα (opp. ἐπὶ δόρυ), on the left, towards or to the left, because the shield was on the left arm, X. Cyr. 7.5.6, An. 4.3.26; παρ’ ἀσπίδος A. Th. 624; ἐξ ἀσπίδος Plb. 11.23.5; but παρ’ ἀσπίδα, literally, beside the shield, Il. 16.400; παρ’ ἀ. στῆναι stand in battle, E. Med. 250, Ph. 1001; παρ’ ἀ. βεβηκέναι ib.1073; ἐκπονεῖν Id. Or. 653, cf. Hel. 734; ἐς ἀσπίδ’ ἥξειν Id. Ph. 1326; ἀσπίδας συγκλείειν (cf. συγκλείω); ἀσπίδα τίθεσθαι serve in the ranks, Pl. Lg. 756a; but θέσθαι τὰς ἀ. pile shields, X. HG 2.4.12; ἐπειδὰν ἀ. ψοφῇ when the shields ring, i.e. when two bodies of men meet in a charge, Id. An. 4.3.29; ἀσπίδα ἀναδέξαι, ἆραι, as a signal, Hdt. 6.115, X. HG 2.1.27.

4. of a round, flat bowl, Aristopho 14.

5. boss on a door, IG 4.1484.79 (Epid.).

II. asp, Egyptian cobra, Coluber haié, Hdt. 4.191, Men. 702, Nic. Th. 158, Ph. 2.570, Ael. NA 10.31; a play on signff. I and II, Ar. V. 23.

2. ornament in this form, OGI 90.43 (Rosetta).