DACIAN INFANTRY WITH THE DRACO ON TRAJAN'S COLUMN

Dacian Infantryman with a Draco

(Scene 31)

I was recently misinformed by a Roman antiquities expert that the Dacian infantry did not carry the draco in the early period - that this was something reserved for the cavalry only.

Well, as is unfortunately so often the case, the expert in question was mistaken.

The images on Trajan's Column not only depict Dacian infantrymen bearing the draco, it is only their infantrymen which do so.  

From http://www.trajans-column.org/?page_id=276:

"Draco: The “flying” dragon standard of the Dacian army. The head of the standard is best described as canine and fanged.  This was attached to a fabric(?) sleeve which was inflated when held up to the wind.  Scenes 25, 31, 38, 59, 64, 66, 75 (surrender scene), 78 (as part of a trophy decoration)."

I have posted the first scene above.  Here are the remainder:

The argument advanced by this same expert - that the Dacian infantry unit stationed at Birdoswald on Hadrian's Wall wouldn't have honored the draco standard - can, therefore, be dispensed with.