in **Antiquity**, Dragon-bearer. Several nations, as the Persians, Parthians, and Scythians, bore dragons on their standards; and hence the standards themselves were called *dracones*, or dragons. The Romans are generally supposed to have borrowed the same custom from the Parthians; but Cassubon thinks they took it from the Daci; while Codin is of opinion that they owe it to the Assyrians.

The Roman *dracones* were figures of dragons painted in red upon the flags, as appears from Ammianus Marcellinus; but amongst 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 ἀποστελλόντας καὶ ἀποδεκατοῦντας; for the emperors carried the custom with them to Constantinople.

**DRAONTIC MONTH**, the time of the revolution of the moon from her ascending node, called *caput draconis*, to her return thither.