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The ''draco'' ("dragon" or "serpent", plural ''dracontes'') was a military standard of the Roman cavalry. Carried by the ''draconarius'', the ''draco'' was the standard of the cohort as the eagle ''(aquila)'' was that of the legion. The ''draco'' may have been introduced to the Roman cavalry by Sarmatian units in the 2nd century. According to Vegetius, in the 4th century a ''draco'' was carried by each legionary cohort.〔Vegetius 2.13; Pat Southern and Karen R. Dixon, ''The Late Roman Army'' (Yale University Press, 1996), p. 98.〕 The dragon was originally a Dacian emblem. According to Fiebiger, the Romans adopted it from the Dacians, after their defeat or from the Parthians. ==Literary descriptions== The Greek military writer Arrian describes the ''draco'' in his passage on cavalry training exercises, calling it "Scythian":
Arrian says the colorful banners offer visual pleasure and amazement, but also help the riders position themselves correctly in the complicated drills.〔Arrian, ''Technē Tacita'' 35.5.〕 The Gallo-Roman Latin poet Sidonius offers a similar, if more empurpled, description.〔Sidonius, ''Panegyric on Maiorianus'' 5; Southern and Dixon, ''The Late Roman Army,'' p. 126.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Draco (military standard)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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