Diomedes at The Louvre, Paris

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In ancient Greek and Roman mythology, the palladium or palladion was a revered cult image of immense antiquity whose safety was said to depend on Troy and later Rome, represented by the wooden statue (xoanon) of Pallas Athena that Odysseus and Diomedes stole from Troy's citadel and which Aeneas later transported to Rome's future site. The Roman story is told in Virgil's Aeneid and other works. In English since around 1600, the word palladium has been used figuratively to mean anything believed to provide protection or safety, especially in Christian contexts a sacred relic or icon with a protective role in military contexts for entire cities, people, or nations. Such beliefs first gained prominence in the Eastern church during the period following Byzantine Emperor Justinian I's reign and later spread to the Western church. Diomedes, also known as Diomede ("God-like cunning advised by Zeus"), is a hero in Greek mythology renowned for his participation in the Trojan War. He was born to Tydeus and Deipyle before becoming King of Argos, succeeding his maternal grandfather Adrastus. In Homer's Iliad, Diomedes is considered one of the greatest warriors among all the Achaeans alongside Ajax (behind only Achilles in prowess). Later, he founded ten or more Italian cities. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help.