ancile

[Lat.] A shield said to have fallen from heaven during the reign of Numa Pompilius. It was believed to be the shield of Mars; and as the prosperity of Rome was supposed to depend upon its preservation, eleven others were made like it, that any one wishing to steal it might not know which to take. (Could it have been originally a lump of meteoric iron?) "Recorded to have been sent from heaven in a more celestial manner than the ancile of ancient Rome."Poster: On the Number 666, p. 176. "The Trojans secured their palladium; the Romans their ancile ; and now the Roman Catholieks have so great care of their images."- Brevint : Saul & Samuel at Endor , p. 385.