Vexillum

A vexillum was a flag used as a military standard by the ancient Roman army. It hung from a horizontal crossbar on a pole, rather than being attached along the pole like most modern flags. Its name is the root of the word vexillology.

Because it hung from a crossbar, a vexillum stayed flat and faced the viewer. A modern flag is attached along the hoist, so it folds and ripples as it flies.

Whitney Smith built vexillology, the study of flags, from vexillum and the Greek suffix -logia. See what the study of flags is called. For a banner that hangs flat, try the 1:1 or 4:5 preset in the flag maker, or read the flag ratios guide first.