由 spank » 2009-03-28 03:51
Aegis(神盾)的故事
原意為一塊羊皮,後來在希臘神話中成了有流蘇(fringe or tassel)的鐵甲或盾(shield)。
Aegis是宙斯和雅典娜的神盾。宙斯常搖晃他的神盾,藉以招雷喚雨。雅典娜的神盾幫助珀修斯(Perseus)殺死梅杜沙(Medusa),割下她的頭,把她放到雅典娜的神盾Aegis上。
戈耳工美杜莎(Gorgon Medusa)是希臘神話中的蛇髮女妖三姐妹之一,居住在遙遠的西方,是海神福耳庫斯的女兒。她們的頭上和脖子上佈滿鱗甲,頭髮是一條條蠕動的毒蛇,長著野豬的獠牙,還有一雙鐵手和金翅膀,任何看到她們的人都會立即變成石頭。宙斯之子珀爾修斯(Perseus)知道這個秘密,因此背過臉去,用光亮的盾牌作鏡子,找出美杜莎,在雅典娜和赫耳墨斯的幫助下割下了她的頭。從美杜莎的軀體裡跳出雙翼飛馬珀伽索斯和巨人克律薩俄耳,他們都是波塞冬的後代。珀爾修斯躲避美杜莎兩個姐姐的追殺時,在空中遇到狂風的襲擊,被吹得左右搖晃,從美杜莎的頭顱上滴下的鮮血落到利比亞沙漠中,成為毒蛇。
在蛇髮女妖三姐妹中,只有美杜莎是凡身,她的姐姐絲西娜和尤瑞艾莉都是魔身。據說美杜莎曾經是一位美麗的少女,因吹噓自己比雅典娜長得漂亮而被這位智慧女神奪去了她的所有美麗,只留給她一個醜陋的妖怪之軀。
戈耳工的血液雖然劇毒,卻擁有特殊的力量,曾賦予埃裡克特翁尼亞斯以起死回生的能力。珀爾修斯(Perseus)用割下的美杜莎的頭顱殺死了海怪塞特斯,回去後把美杜莎的頭顱獻給雅典娜(Athena),而雅典娜則將美杜沙的頭嵌在神盾埃癸斯(Aegis)的中央。古希臘人將美杜莎的頭像繪製在盤子上,以達到趨吉避凶的效果。。戈耳工三姐妹的頭像常被藝術家用在象徵性的徽章、建築的裝飾物甚至雅典的錢幣上,也曾用於士兵的盾牌上。敵人看了盾牌上的美杜莎的臉就會變成石像。
在現代社會,Aegis在軍事上用作劃分等級,比如說神盾武器系統(Aegis Weapon System)、神盾系統(Aegis strategic management system),又把船艦分為神盾級艦(Aegis Ships)等等。小寫的aegis是gre單字,「保護;庇護」的意思。
AEGIS
(英文資料參閱http://74.125.153.100/search?q=cache:0blzbtHbGP0J:www.preble.navy.mil/Site%2520Pages/Aegis.aspx&hl=zh-TW&ct=clnk&cd=8)
Aegis is the name identified with the weapon system, combat system, Navy program office, and ships, which have modernized and strengthened our Surface Navy to cope with potential threats well into the 21st century. The name is rich in classic symbolism for authority and protection, and is most apt for the Navy’s ability to defend battle groups.
The word “AEGIS” comes to us from classical mythology. AEGIS is the name of the impenetrable shield, which protected principal Greek and Roman gods: Zeus and Athena in Greek mythology, and their Roman counterparts, Jupiter and Minerva. The word is pronounced ee-jis in Greek and aa-jis in Latin.
In the myth of the AEGIS, Hephaestus, Greek god of fire and smithcraft, forged a metal shield and breastplate for Zeus as an infant. The word “aegis” is presumed to have derived from the Greek word for goat, or goatskin. The shield was trimmed with gold tassels.
The AEGIS was most often associated with Athena who sprang forth fully armed from the head of her father, Zeus. Athena was the goddess of wisdom, shipbuilding and warfare; was the embodiment of prudent and intelligent tactics.
Athena lent the AEGIS to Perseus to battle the dreaded Medusa. A Gorgon with steely scales and snakes for hair, Medusa was so frightening to behold that those who viewed her directly turned to stone. Perseus slew Medusa by watching her reflection in the AEGIS’ polished surface. Forever after, the shield also became adorned with four snakes in place of the gold tassels, representing fear, flight, force and pursuit, again enhancing the shield’s mystic impenetrable powers.