Under Auroral standards
(to history of standards of Amir Temur and the Temurids)
Oriental miniature painting forms a perfect source for study of medieval material culture, including flags. The signs, symbols, blazons and emblems on banners laconically narrate fascinating history of the country. Flags are original codes, which humanity has left in a form of signs telling about the life, destiny of peoples and outstanding events, the key to which has been lost irrevocably in many cases. From their birth in the 3nd - 2rd millennia B.C. and till now, they play a significant role in the social life, especially in periods of wars. Having arisen as clan and tribal insignia, flags became attributes of power and honour of ancient kings and warriors, knights and commanders. In the course of time, they turned into a major instrument of visual communication in battles and on merchants' ships. They were used to give signals, to distinguish friends from enemies and to identify a status and title...