Page:The age of Justinian and Theodora (Volume 1).djvu/194

 dragon. The Imperial standard, or that of the general in chief command, was a purple banner embroidered with gold and of exceptional size. The vexilla were dependent horizontally from a cross-bar fixed to the pole or spear by which they were elevated. Mounted lancers displayed small pennons or streamers near the points of their weapons, but these were removed as an encumbrance on the eve of battle. Full armour was worn, in some troops even by the horses. Besides the weapons adapted for close conflict, much reliance was placed on missiles, javelins and slings, but especially bows and arrows in the hands of mounted archers. In replenishing the ranks great discrimination was exercised; and not only the physical fitness of the recruit, but the social atmosphere in which he had sprung up was made the subject of strict inquiry. No slave was accepted as a soldier, nor any youth whose mind had been debased by menial employment or by traffic for petty gains in the slums of a city. The