The Draco standard

[Renatus]

I have two questions:
1. Is there any explicit authority for ancient armies using windsocks to establish wind direction and strength?
2. Is there any evidence for other bow-armed troops, e.g., the English archers at Agincourt, using windsocks for this purpose?

1. Not that I know of (but that knowledge is limited). There is no Roman source making the link that I know of, but as the windsock was used by Scythians, Persians, Indian armies, perhaps there is more about.
2. Not that I know of, but a flag would serve the same purpose I think.

I think that we are of the same mind. There is a grave danger of confusing appearance with function and of transferring our present-day experience of the use of windsocks in aviation back to an age which can have had no such experience. Until evidence can be adduced that dracones were used as devices for assessing wind direction, we are safer regarding them as simply what we know them to have been - battle standards and pretty impressive ones at that. Indeed, I think that we would be well-advised to get away from referring to them as 'windsocks' altogether. Perhaps 'serpent-tail standards' would do, if a little cumbersome. Has anyone any other ideas?