Vexillum

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The vexillum was a flag-like object used in the Classical Era of the Roman Empire. The vexillum resembles the modern flag; however, the cloth is draped vertically from a horizontal edge, unlike the horizontally-flown flags most used today. The word vexillology, meaning the study of flags, is derived from this word.

Nearly all of the present-day regions of Italy preserve the use of the vexillum; these are among the few instances of such usage in modern times.

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