Standards
.Standard of Edward I. The arms of England, St. George, St. Edmond, and St. Edward.
Standard of Mahomet. (See Sandschaki.)
Standard of the Anglo-Saxons. A white horse.
The Celestial Standard. So the Turks call their great green banner, which they say was given to Mahomet by the angel Gabriel. (See Sandschaki.)
Constantinople (Standard of), called Labʹarum. It consisted of a silverplated spear with a cross-beam, from which hung a small silk banner, bearing the portrait of the reigning family and the famous monogram.
(3) Lacedœmon. the initial letter L, in Greek (Λ).
(4) Messiʹna, the initial letter M.
Heliopʹolis. On the top of a staff, the head of a white eagle, with the breast stripped of feathers and without wings. This was the symbol of Jupiter and of the Lagĭdes.
Jews (ancient), (“degel”) belonged to the four tribes of Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan. The Rabbins say the standard of Judah bore a lion, that of Reuben a man, that of Ephraim a bull, and that of Dan the cherubim (Gen. xlix. 3–22). They were ornamented with white, purple, crimson, and blue, and were embroidered.
Persia (ancient). The one adopted by Cyrus, and perpetuated, was a golden eagle with outstretched wings; the colour white.
Persian Standard. A blacksmith’s apron. Kaivah, sometimes called Gao, a blacksmith, headed a rebellion against Biver, surnamed Deh-ak (ten vices), a merciless tyrant, and displayed his apron as a banner. The apron was adopted by the next king, and continued for centuries to be the national standard. (B.C. 800.)
Roman Standards In the rude ages a wisp of straw. This was succeeded by bronze or silver devices attached to a staff. Pliny enumerates five—viz. the eagle, wolf, minotaur, horse, and boar. In later ages the image of the emperor, a hand outstretched, a dragon with a silver head and body of taffety. Maʹrius confined all promiscuous devices to the cohorts, and reserved the eagle for the exclusive use of the legion. This eagle, made of gold and silver, was borne on the top of a spear, and was represented with its wings displayed, and bearing in one of its talons a thunderbolt.
Turkish Standards.
(1) Sanjak Cherif (Standard of the Prophet), green silk. This is preserved with great care in the Seraglio, and is never brought forth except in time of war
(2) The Sanjak, red.
(3) The Tug, consisting of one, two, or three horse-tails, according to the rank of the person who bears it. Pachas with three tails are of the highest dignity, and are entitled beglerbeg (prince of princes). Beys have only one horse-tail. The tails are fastened to the end of a gilt lance, and carried before the pacha or bey.
