The aegis is a powerful device or protective item featured prominently in the Iliad. It is primarily associated with the deities Zeus, Apollo, and Athena, though its exact nature remains a subject of interpretation in classical studies.
Descriptions of the aegis vary, with some accounts identifying it as a shield and others as an animal skin. It is often depicted as featuring the head of a Gorgon, which adds to its formidable reputation. Some traditions suggest a potential link to a deity named Aex, who served as a nurse or mistress to Zeus.