Aegis (2018)

Dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.
The thematic material of the piece has been derived from phenomena connecting to the etymology of the word Aegis. Aegis (/ˈiːdʒɪs/; Ancient Greek: αἰγίς aigís),, was in ancient Greece (or their Roman counterparts Jupiter and Minerva), a leather cloak or breastplate generally associated with Zeus, the king of the gods, and thus thought to possess supernatural power – emblematic of majesty that was associated with Zeus and Athena. More as an emblem of strength and protection than a military shield. Athena’s shield carried at its center the head of Medusa. Brightly shimmering or darkly obscuring, the aegis refers to Athena’s protective yet potentially destructive power.

It also means “A shield”; or “a protection” and the modern concept of doing something “under someone’s aegis” means doing something under the protection of a powerful, knowledgeable, or benevolent source. The word aegis is identified with protection by a strong force with its roots in Greek mythology and adopted by the Romans; there are parallels in Norse mythology and in Egyptian mythology as well, where the Greek word aegis is applied by extension.