The Draco standard

[diegis]

Well, the name given by Romans was "draco", we dont know how Dacians or others name them but we use the name "draco" for such flags, a serpentiform body with a wolf or some other animals head.

As far as i know the first appeareance of a "draco" was on Trajan Column where is used exclusevly by Dacians. The presumed Sarmatian cavalry appear in couple scenes but they dont use such standard.

Some author mention an even earlier presence ("Roman Military Equipment from the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome" de M. C. Bishop - 2005)

"The type is first seen with a wolf's head and a beribboned tail on a Domitianic(?) trophy frieze, and carried by Dacians on Trajan's Column."

The head of the Dacian "draco" is usually a wolf (and many times appear near a "vexilium" standard alos used by Dacians who suppsoedly inspirde from Roman army and had a professional army as well, or at least had a core of professional army similar with Romans)

This is the battle from Tapae, the draco and a vexilium appear in the upper right corner. Dacians are in upper position and kinda overcome the Roman army (mostly auxiliars) when Jupiter appear from the skies and throw lightinings against Dacian army



This is a "draco" (near a vexilium, they are shown in the middle and upper part of the scene) in a Dacian fortress that is abandoned under Roman assault (the heads of killed Romans are put on stakes on the walls)



This are "Draco" used by Dacians during the crossing of Danube and attack of Moesia

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dacian...Column.jpg



http://quadratus.files.wordpress.com/201...jpghttp://

Here among the trophies from Trajan Column



Same image in some engravings made in XVIII century (when Column was in a better shape)

http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b20...24.highres
http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b20...25.highres

Other various images and reproductions




This is from Tropaeum Traiani (Adamclisi) monument (original ancient frieze inside the museum)



And the reproduced one



Tropaeum Traiani monument is a bit controversial, some say is an older Dacian monument there, and then Romans re-worked it in their own one or build another one but preserving parts from the older Dacian one. Then in modern times "suffered" another reconstruction and preservation work based on the ruins and pieces found there

It is supposed that the "draco" (not the Roman name used but the actual stindard) originated from Bonze Age when was found braceletes (of gold, silver or bronze) with a serpent form and having other animal heads (or snake heads) at both ends.
Another theory is that they was inspired by some Hittites imagery, as proto-Thracians had contacts with Hittites (which themselves might have inspired from Sumerian/Babylonian imagery of Tiamat).

However, due to fact that Dacian draco use in general a wolf head and the Dacian name in Greek was "daoi", similar with the Phrygian word "daoi" which mean "wolf/wolves" (and Thracian, Dacian and Phrygian are considered "sister" languages) it might be more probably a local development originating in bronze age, from where it spread to Scythians/Sarmatians and Parthians.

Romans adopted the "draco" after Trajan wars and after Dacian and Thracian auxiliars begin to form an important segment in Roman Army. Another element that start to spread in Roman army was the so called "Thracian, Danubian or Dacian rider that had a cult among Roman soldiers.

Even the draco bearer found in Britania (Chester/Deva) might be as well a Dacian auxiliar, as a Dacian unit was located right there as far as i know