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What shapes and colours were common on ancient Indian flags?
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flag
Various shapes of flags: (from left) rectangle (Algeria), square (Switzerland), pennant (Nepal), swallowtail (Ohio, U.S.).
In ancient India, flags were highly significant, often carried on chariots and elephants during battle, where they served as primary targets. These flags were frequently triangular in shape and typically featured scarlet or green backgrounds, often embellished with gold figures and gold fringe.1
Beyond these common designs, other historical accounts mention flags with backgrounds of white, yellow, or black silk. These flags often displayed embroidered gold devices, such as bulls, elephants, or water hens. The design of these standards was sometimes linked to the physical construction of the flagstaff, which might be topped with a figure matching the emblem displayed on the flag itself.1