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Vexillum
The vexillum (; plural vexilla) was a flag-like object used as a military standard by units in the Ancient Roman army.
==Use in the Roman army==
The word vexillum is a diminutive of the Latin word, ''velum'', meaning a sail, which confirms the historical evidence (from coins and sculpture) that vexilla were literally "little sails" i.e. flag-like standards. In the vexillum the cloth was draped from a horizontal crossbar suspended from the staff; this is unlike most modern flags in which the 'hoist' of the cloth is attached directly to the vertical staff. The bearer of a vexillum was known as a ''vexillarius'' or ''vexillifer''.〔(Vexillum ). ''Flagspot.net'', retrieved March 18, 2011〕
Just as in the case of the regimental colors or flag of Early Modern Western regiments, the vexillum was a treasured symbol of the military unit that it represented and it was closely defended in combat. It was the main standard of some types of unit, especially cavalry; however, it was regarded as less important than a legion's aquila or eagle, and may have represented a sub-division of a legion, though this is not entirely clear from surviving sources (see vexillatio).〔(Vexillum ). ''Flagspot.net'', retrieved March 18, 2011〕
The only extant Roman military vexillum is dated to the 1st half of the 3rd century AD and is housed in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. It is an almost square piece of coarse linen cloth with the image of goddess Victoria and measures 47×50 cm. The lower edge has remains of a fringe.〔 The vexillum was once attached to a piece of reed wood.〔 It is unknown which military unit the vexillum belonged to. The vexillum was found in Egypt sometime before 1911, the exact provenance is also unclear.〔Rostovtzeff, p. 106〕
抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』
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