the Tortoise, a genus of animals belonging to the class of amphibia, and order of reptilia. See REPTOLOGY Index.

in antiquity, was particularly used among the poets, &c. for the ancient lyre; because it was originally made by its inventor Mercury, of the back or hollow of the testudo aquatica, or sea-tortoise, which he accidentally found on the banks of the river Nile. See LYRE.

in the military art of the ancients, was a kind of cover or screen which the soldiers, e. gr. a whole company, made themselves of their bucklers, by holding them up over their heads, and standing close to each other. This expedient served to shelter them from darts, stones, &c. thrown upon them, especially those thrown from above, when they went to the assault.

was also a kind of large wooden tower which moved on several wheels, and was covered with bullock-hides, serving to shelter the soldiers when they approached the walls to mine them, or to batter them with rams. It was called testudo, from the strength of its roof, which covered the workmen as the shell does the tortoise.