In ancient Rome, the ancilia (Latin, singular ancile) were twelve sacred shields kept in the Temple of Mars. According to legend, one divine shield fell from heaven during the reign of Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome. He ordered eleven copies made to confuse would-be thieves, since the original shield was regarded as one of the pignora imp...
• (n.) The sacred shield of the Romans, said to have-fallen from heaven in the reign of Numa. It was the palladium of Rome.
An·ci'le noun [ Latin ] (Rom. Antiq.) The sacred shield of the Romans, said to have-fallen from heaven in the reign of Numa. It was the palladium of Rome. 
Sacred shield that fell from heavens; palladium of Rome.
a shield given by Mars to Numa Pompilius as the palladium of Rome. · any of 11 counterfeits of this shield, carried with it on ceremonial occasions.