The banner of Poland traces its origins to the early Slavic vexilloids known as "stanice" (pronounced ; singular: "stanica"), probably used at least as early as the 10th century. Although no specimens or images are preserved, a "stanica" was probably a cloth draped vertically from a horizontal crosspiece attached to a wooden pole or spear, resembling the Roman "vexillum". It was both a religious and military symbol; the "stanice" were kept either inside or outside pagan temples in peacetime and were taken to war as military insignia.