Draco

• The Draco, meaning dragon or serpent, was the military standard of the Roman Cavalry Cohort.
• It was carried by the Draconarius.

Description

• The Draco was the cavalry equivalent of the Legionary Standard, which was an eagle, known as the Aquila.
• The Draco was a bronze Dragon’s head attached to a tube of free floating fabric which whistled as the wind passed through it.
• Arrian described the Draco as being Scythian in origin, and that it inflated and whistled when the horse was running.
• It was copied from the Dacians after the Dacian Wars (101-106 CE).

Draconarius

• The Draconarius was the cavalry equivalent of the Standard Bearer in the Legion.
• He carried the Draco, the Standard of every Cavalry Cohort, according to Vegetius.