This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website Etymology
of Vexillological terminology Last modified: 2002-09-21 by phil
nelson Keywords: vexillology | terminology | etymology |
vexillum | Links: FOTW homepage | disclaimer and copyright |
write us | According to Charlton Lewis' Elementary Latin
dictionary, a vexillium is "a military ensign, standard, banner,
or flag." A vexillarius is "a standard-bearer, or under the
empire, the oldest class of veterans." According to Lawrence
Keppie, The Making of the Roman Army, "Marius [Gaius Marius,
Roman general of the early 1st century B.C. and reorganizer of
the Roman army] is also credited with making the eagle (aquila)
the legion's first standard, and a focus of loyalty and
affection. Our source, the Elder Pliny, places the adoption of
the eagle at 104 B.C...He notes that the legion hitherto had had
a variety of standards--the eagle (which had always had the
first place) the wolf, the minotaur, the horse and the boar, and
that all ahd been carried in front of