page_title: Draco (military standard)
section_title: Literary descriptions
hierarchical_section_title: Draco (military standard) / Literary descriptions
caption_attribution_description: English: Roman general, disputed identification: perhaps Hostilianus or his elder brother Herennius Etruscus. Detail of the great Ludovisi sarcophagus, with battle scene between Roman soldiers and Germans. Proconnesian marble, Roman artwork, ca. 251/252 CE. Found in 1621 near the Tiburtina Gate in Rome. Français&#160;: Général romain dont l'identité est controversée&#160;: peut-être Hostilien ou Herrennius Etruscus. Détail du grand sarcophage Ludovisi représentant une bataille entre soldats romains et Germains. Marbre du Proconnèse, œuvre romaine, vers 251/252 ap. J.-C. Italiano: Generale romano, forse Ostiliano o Erennio Etrusco, dettaglio del cosidetto “Grande Ludovisi” sarcofago, con scena di battaglia tra soldati Romani e Germani. Marmo proconnesio, opera romana, 251/252 d.C. ca.
context_page_description: The draco was a military standard of the Roman cavalry. Carried by the draconarius, the draco was the standard of the cohort as the eagle 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.
context_section_description: The Greek military writer Arrian describes the draco in his passage on cavalry training exercises, calling it "Scythian":
  The Scythian banners are dracontes held aloft on standard-length poles. They are made of colored cloths stitched together, and from the head along the entire body to the tail, they look like snakes. When the horses bearing these devices are not in motion, you see only variegated streamers hanging down. During the charge is when they most resemble creatures: they are inflated by the wind, and even make a sort of hissing sound as the air is forced through them.
  Arrian says the colorful banners offer visual pleasure and amazement, but also help the riders position themselves correctly in the complicated drills. The Gallo-Roman Latin poet Sidonius offers a similar, if more empurpled, description.
caption: Detail from the Ludovisi battle sarcophagus showing a draco (top right, above the horse's head)
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