04-02-2013, 10:54 PM
Quote:Until evidence can be adduced that dracones were used as devices for assessing wind direction, we are safer regarding them as simply what we know them to have been - battle standards and pretty impressive ones at that. Indeed, I think that we would be well-advised to get away from referring to them as 'windsocks' altogether. Perhaps 'serpent-tail standards' would do, if a little cumbersome. Has anyone any other ideas?I'm not willing to go that far yet, especially because we have some evidence for 'fabric' standards, which seem far more like a windsock than a brilliant battle standard.
Oh, I forgot to mention one of its functions - Arrian mentions that it was meant to strike fear into the opponent.
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)