Brewer's: Palladium

Something that affords effectual protection and safety. The Palladium was a colossal wooden statue of Pallas in the city of Troy, said to have fallen from heaven. It was believed that so long as this statue remained within the city, Troy would be safe, but if removed, the city would fall into the hands of the enemy. The statue was carried away by the Greeks, and the city burnt by them to the ground. The Scotch had a similar tradition attached to the great stone of Scone, near Perth. Edward I. removed it to Westminster, and it is still framed in the Coronation Chair of England, (See Coronation, Scone.)

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