in antiquity, Dragon-bearer. Several nations, as the Persians, Parthians, Scythians, &c., bore dragons on their standards; whence the standards themselves were called *dracones*, "dragons." The Romans borrowed the same custom from the Parthians; or, as Casaubon has it, from the Daci; or, as Codin, from the Assyrians.

The Roman dracones were figures of dragons painted in red on the flags, as appears from Ammianus Marcellinus; but among the Persians and Parthians they were, like the Roman eagle, figures in full relievo; so that the Romans were frequently deceived, and took them for real dragons.

The soldier who bore the dragon or standard was called by the Romans *draconarius*; and by the Greeks *δρακοντιάς* and *δρακοντιάς*; for the emperors carried the custom with them to Constantinople.