ἀσπίς
I. "a round shield", Lat. clipeus, of bull's hide, overlaid with metal plates, with a boss (ὀμφαλός) in the middle, and fringed with tassels (θύσανοι): different from the "oblong shield" (ὅπλον, Lat. scutum) used by the ὁπλῖται.
2. in Prose, used for "a body of soldiers", ὀκτακισχιλίη ἀσπίς 8, 000 "men-at-arms", Hdt.
3. military phrases: ἐπ᾽ ἀσπίδας πέντε καὶ εἴκοσι τάξασθαι to be drawn up 25 deep, Thuc.; so, ἐπ᾽ ἀσπίδων ὀλίγων τετάχθαι id=Thuc.; ἐπ᾽ ἀσπίδα, παρ᾽ ἀσπίδα (opp. to ἐπὶ δόρυ) "on the left, towards or to the left", because the shield was on the left arm, Xen.; παρ᾽ ἀσπ. στῆναι to stand in battle-array, Eur.
II. "an asp", an Egyptian snake, Hdt.