Chapter 4: The Dacian War Banner

''The Dacian Draco was the standard of the ancient Dacian military. It had a wolf head with the mouth open, with a snake body, made out of bronze and it ended with some linen stripes. It was put on a rod and if held in the air while galloping, it made a whistling sound, due to the air which entered the wolf's mouth.''

The draco was originally developed by the Sarmatians and Alans, cavalry peoples of the steppes. The earliest evidence of the Draco in Dacia was found on 4th century BC pottery discovered in the Prahova county of Romania. On Trajan's Column the Dacian soldiers are often represented carrying a Dacian Draco: there are no less than 20 representations of the Draco. The only copy left was found in Germany, which, was probably a trophy won by the Roman troops from the wars with the Dacians. After the Dacian wars the draco was adopted by Roman cavalry (they always were so original, weren't they?).