Indian Mounds and Earthworks. 101 
than those of the North aineiiais Indian. _ In the earliest periods 
men rallied around the sacred person of the standard bearer, with 
equal self-devotion, and perished in its defence with as much 
heroism, as after generations have perilled life to guard the con- 
secrated banner, or in our day have died to maintain the glory of 
a national flag. So far back, even, as the time of Moses, standards 
were employed to distinguish the different tribes of the children 
of Israel. There was an assigned place to each banner in the 
order of the march of the entire host; and all men were directed 
“to pitch their tents by their own standards, every one after their 
families, according to the houses of their fathers.” 
From that time to the present, in nearly all stages of society, 
may be traced the existence of symbols which were adopted for 
purposes of a like kind; certain natural objects being 
mi standards, and depicted on their commercial flags ; they 
were sculptured upon their monuments, portrayed upon their 
escutcheons, incorporated with their architecture, inscribed upon 
their seals, and impressed upon their coinage. We are informed 
that the kings of the Medes bore golden eagles upon their shields ; 
that the Greeks, the Trojans, and other warlike nations, had de- 
vices painted or sculptured upon their shields and helmets ;* and 
that the ancient Germans bore standards before them in battle.t 
The Roman legions planted the imperial standard over a large 
portion of the then known world. By turns, the shores of Albion 
have been invaded by the Roman eagle, the Danish raven, the 
white horse of Saxony, and the Norman lion. 
And then, when the followers of the cross led on their mar- 
shalled thousands to war against the crescent, what hosts of de- 
vices, cognizances, achievements, and symbols, were emblazoned 
on banner, erest, and shield ;—devices derived alike from from. natural 
i sctnse hadi and borne in commemoration of noble 
mi 
Dae A Write 
* « Mutemus clypeos, Danaumque sciigpie nobis 
Amptemus :—s! ic fatus, _deinde comantem 
Androgei galeam, ¢ y ge 
t Egyptians, Patiinve, ely i and Greeks, all carried ensigns of 
different figures in their armies. Among the most celebrated standards was the 
black crowned eagle of Attila, king of the Huns. It was called Astur, and sup- 
to be the same as the Schongar of the pole We might also mention 
the renowned Gonfalon and the sacred Oriflamm 
? 
