Aegis

Olympian god's buckler

Aegis originally meant a shield or protective covering, from the goatskin shield of Zeus in Greek mythology.

The word survives almost exclusively in the phrase under the aegis of, meaning under the protection, sponsorship, or guidance of: The project operates under the aegis of the United Nations.

The spelling aegis preserves the classical Latin form.

mythological

Zeus

Greek sky god

AthenaGreek wisdom deity
goatskinTanned caprine hide
MedusaStone-gazing mythic creature

gorgon · breastplate · thunderbolt · divine · Olympian · deity · immortal · Greek · goddess · armor

protection

shield

Handheld defensive armor

safeguardPrecaution against harm
defenseProtection against harm
guardianProtective caretaker of another

shelter · umbrella · bulwark · armor · ward · buffer · fortress · haven · sanctuary · refuge

sponsorship

patronage

Supporter's financial backing

auspicesSponsorship and guidance
backingAid or sponsorship
supportTo uphold or sustain

endorsement · oversight · guidance · authority · sanction · supervision · stewardship · trusteeship · governance · leadership

Categories

naval warfarenaval battles, naval battle, battleship, destroyer, sea battles
defense systemsshield, armor, missile defense, bunker, radar
Lockheed MartinSR-71, F-22, F-35, C-130, U-2
naval weaponstorpedo, naval guns, cannon, naval mines, gun turret
Pentagon ProgramsDARPA, F-22, F-22 Raptor, F-35, B-2 bomber
destroyersdestroyers, guided missile, torpedo tubes, hull, stern

Opposites

protection vs vulnerability

Aegisvulnerability

Openness to harm

exposure · defenselessness · susceptibility · peril · endangerment

sponsorship vs opposition

Aegisopposition

Active resistance or dissent

sabotage · obstruction · undermining · antagonism · hostility

divine authority vs mortal weakness

Aegishuman frailty

Susceptibility of mortal beings

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Positive · Rated G