ἀσπίς, ίδος, ἡ,
shield, εὔκυκλος[
Refs 8th c.BC+]; opposed to Thracian πέλτη and Persian γέρρον, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀσπίδα ῥῖψαι, ἀποβαλεῖν, [
Refs 6th c.BC+]: to estimate a victory, ἀσπίδας ἔλαβον ὡς διακοσίας[
Refs 5th c.BC+]
2) collective,
body of men-at-arms, ὀκτακισχιλίη ἀ.[
Refs 5th c.BC+]
3) military phrases, ἐπ᾽ ἀσπίδας πέντε καὶ εἴκοσι τάξασθαι to be drawn up twenty-five
deep or
in file, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ μιᾶς ἀσπίδος in single line, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπ᾽ ἀσπίδα, παρ᾽ ἀσπίδα (opposed to ἐπὶ δόρυ),
on the left, towards or
to the left, because the
shield was on the left arm, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; but παρ᾽ ἀσπίδα, literally, beside
the shield, [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; παρ᾽ ἀ. στῆναι stand in
battle, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; παρ᾽ ἀ. βεβηκέναι[
Refs]; ἀσπίδας συγκλείειν (compare συγκλείω); ἀσπίδα τίθεσθαι
serve in the ranks, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; but θέσθαι τὰς ἀ. pile
shields, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπειδὰν ἀ. ψοφῇ when the
shields ring, i.e. when two bodies of men meet in a charge, [
Refs]; ἀσπίδα ἀναδέξαι, ἆραι, as a signal, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
4) of a round, flat bowl, [
Refs 4th c.BC+]
5)
boss on a door, [
Refs]
II)
asp, Egyptian cobra, Coluber haié, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; a play on signff. I and II, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2)
ornament in this form, [
Refs]