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[[Image:Vexilloid of the Roman Empire.jpg|right|thumb|Modern reconstruction of a Roman [[w:Vexillum|vexillum]], emblazoned with [[w:SPQR|S·P·Q·R]] and the [[w:Aquila (Roman)|Roman Eagle]]. [[Constantine the Great|Constantine]] replaced the eagle with the ''Chi-Rho'' Christogram, and the motto ''"en touto nika"'' (''in hoc signo vinces - IHSV'').]]The ''Labarum'' was originally a Roman military ensign, which is described to have been a more distinguished form of the [[w:Vexillum|Vexillum]], or cavalry standard. The [[w:Vexilloid|vexilloid]] of the Roman Empire was a red banner with the letters [[w:SPQR|SPQR]] in Gold surrounded by a gold wreath, hung on a military standard topped by the [[w:|Roman eagle]] (or an image of the goddess [[w:Victoria (mythology)|Victoria]]) made of silver or bronze. That the ''Labarum'' dated its designation as the imperial standard from an early period of the empire, is confirmed by a colonial medal of [[w:Tiberius|Tiberius]] (dedicated to that Prince by ''Caesarea-Augusta'' (Saragozza)), on which may be discerned the form of that ensign. The Labarum is also to be found in the left hand of emperors; on some military figures; and on coins of Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, Septimius Severus, and other princes anterior to Constantine. In addition, Several colonial coins also show a vexillum or cavalry standard, resembling the Labarum, appears on several colonial coins, such as those from Acci, Antiochia Pisidiae, and Caesarea-Augusta.<ref>''[http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=labarum Labarum].'' '''Numiswiki: The Collaborative Numismatics Project.)'''</ref>  Like the other standards, it was an object of religious veneration amongst the soldiers, who paid it divine honours. As an imperial standard, the labarum was only hoisted when the Emperor was with the army.