Vexilloid

A vexilloid has the same functions as a flag but it looks different. Vexilloids are characteristic of traditional societies and ancient empires (Flags did not come into general use until medieval times.). A vexilloid consists of a staff held upright with a cloth banner that hangs down vertically on the staff and on top of the staff is an emblem, such as a carved animal.

The vexilloid of the Roman Empire was emblazoned with initials S·P·Q·R (senātus populusque Rōmānus), which in Latin means "the senate and the people of Rome".

Literature

Whitney Smith, Flags Through the Ages and Across the World, ISBN 0-07-059093-1