Draco, dragon, was distinguished from the serpent (serpens), by its magnitude, crest, and beard; also sometimes by the addition of wings and feet, and was considered a tutelary genius and guardian by the Dacians and some other ancient peoples.

On a consecration coin of Faustina, two dragons draw her cart. On several types of Roman Republic denarii, we see bigae of dragons (a chariot pulled by two dragons), driven by Ceres.

The Dragon served as a Roman ensign under the emperors. They borrowed the custom, most probably from the Dacians and Parthians, who themselves adopted it from the people of India. Dragons became common to all the cohorts, as it is expressly stated by Vegetius:

Primum signum totius legionis est Aquila, quam aquilifer portat; Dracones etiam per singulas cohortes a draconarius feruntur ad praelium.

First of all, carried by the standard-bearers, is the eagle, the sign of the whole of the legion; Dragons are the sign of each of the cohorts, carried by the Draconarius who leads the fight. (Improved translation needed.)

We learn from Ammianus, in describing the solemn entry of Constantius II into Rome, that an officer with the appellation Draconarius, carried a vexillum with the image of a dragon woven on the ensign.

The coinage of Trajan Decius depicts Dacia standing facing or slightly left, her head turned left, wearing a robe reaching her feet, she holds vertical staff topped with the head of Draco.

Draco, dragon, was distinguished from the serpent (serpens), by its magnitude, crest, and beard; also sometimes by the addition of wings and feet, and was considered a tutelary genius and guardian by the Dacians and some other ancient peoples.

On a consecration coin of Faustina, two dragons draw her cart. On several types of Roman Republic denarii, we see bigae of dragons (a chariot pulled by two dragons), driven by Ceres.

The Dragon served as a Roman ensign under the emperors. They borrowed the custom, most probably from the Dacians and Parthians, who themselves adopted it from the people of India. Dragons became common to all the cohorts, as it is expressly stated by Vegetius:

Primum signum totius legionis est Aquila, quam aquilifer portat; Dracones etiam per singulas cohortes a draconarius feruntur ad praelium.

First of all, carried by the standard-bearers, is the eagle, the sign of the whole of the legion; Dragons are the sign of each of the cohorts, carried by the Draconarius who leads the fight. (Improved translation needed.)

We learn from Ammianus, in describing the solemn entry of Constantius II into Rome, that an officer with the appellation Draconarius, carried a vexillum with the image of a dragon woven on the ensign.

The coinage of Trajan Decius depicts Dacia standing facing or slightly left, her head turned left, wearing a robe reaching her feet, she holds vertical staff topped with the head of Draco.