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. The tricolor flag of France A flag is a piece of coloured cloth flown from a pole or mast, usually for purposes of signalling or identification. ... This article describes the ancient classical period: for the classical period in music (second half of the 18th century): see Classical music era. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation) The Roman Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Ancient Roman polity in the centuries following its reorganization under the leadership of Octavian (better known as Augustus), until its radical reformation in what was later to be known as the Byzantine... Flag of the Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques Vexillology is the scholarly study of flags. ...

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.