Athena

Milton, in his Comus, thus alludes to the Aegis:

"What was that snaky-headed Gorgon-shield

That wise Minerva wore, unconquered virgin,

Wherewith she freezed her foes to congealed stone,

But rigid looks of chaste austerity,

And noble grace that dashed brute violence

With sudden adoration and blank awe!"

Iliad 5: 841-857 (Fagles translation)

"Then Athena, child of Zeus whose shield is thunder,

letting fall her supple robe at the Father's threshold -

rich brocade, stitched with her own hand's labor-

donned the battle-shirt of the lord of lightning,

buckled her breastplate geared for wrenching war

and over her shoulders slung her shield, all tassels

flaring terror - Panic mounted high in a crown around it,

Hate and Defense across it, Assault to freeze the blood

and right in their midst the Gorgon's monstrous head,

that rippling dragon horror, sign of storming Zeus.

Then over her brows Athena placed her golden helmet

fronted with four knobs and forked with twin horns,

engraved with the fighting men of a hundred towns.

The onto the flaming chariot Pallas set her feet

and seized her spear - weighted, heavy, the massive shaft

she wields to break the battle lines of heroes

the mighty Father's daughter storms against."