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.
Literature
Whitney Smith, Flags Through the Ages and Across the World, ISBN 0-07-059093-1
Vexilloid Media
A detail from the Narmer Palette, with the oldest known depiction of vexilloids.
- Ptolemaic Egyptian Vexilloid 1.jpg
The Ptolemaic Vexilloid Standard