Insignia
Insignia.Special identification for soldiers and their instruments of war predates recorded history, going back to specially carved prehistoric clubs, and including such well‐known examples as Egyptian chariots, Israelite tribal symbols, Roman standards, Zulu regalia, and American Indian warpaint. Anthropologists and psychologists have suggested a warrior's need to identify with a proud unit, or to personalize, trust, and feel affection for those implements that deliver the warrior from or to destruction.
During the Crusades, at the siege of Antioch in 1097, since suits of armor were somewhat anonymous, the Crusaders painted their shields to help them recognize each other in the heat of battle. These later evolved into official coats of arms, representing families and clans. The spirit of knighthood quickly transferred such symbols into elaborate robes, medals, and rings, which became the forerunners of modern metal military insignia.
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