Enneapylæ, Pel. (ἐννέα and πύλαι). Literally, nine gates; a fortified enclosure constructed by the Bœotian Pelasgians round the Acropolis of Athens, some years after the Trojan war. Xerxes destroyed the enneapylæ after the capture of Athens. A few fragments of it remain to this day, not far from the temple of the Wingless Victory.
Enotia, Gr. (Lat. inaures). Ear-rings (q.v.).
Enseniator, Med. Lat. (from the Italian insegna, an ensign). A mounted ensign-bearer.
Ensiculus, R. A small sword, or child’s sword, used as a plaything. It is the diminutive of Ensis.
Ensigned, Her. Adorned; having some ensign of honour placed above, as a coronet above a shield.
Figs. 289, 290. Gallic Ensigns.
Ensigns, Gen. (Lat. signa militaria; Gr. σημεῖα). Military symbols beneath which soldiers are ranged according to the different regiments to which they belong. The most ancient Roman ensign was a bundle of straw, hay, or fern. Then came the eagle, the wolf, the minotaur, the horse, and the boar. Afterwards the eagle alone was displayed (B. C. 104); it was made of silver or bronze, with expanded wings. The serpent or dragon was used as a particular ensign by the several cohorts, and the centuries had also each its ensign; but these were cloth flags. Under Constantine the LABARUM (q.v.) was introduced. (See Cuspis, Figs. 228 to 230.)
Fig. 291. Gallic Ensign.