Mappa

The mappa (in Greek old μάππα / máppa ) is the white fabric part that the Consul threw in the arena, the ancient Rome and to Byzance, to give the starting signal of the plays. More largely, this fabric became the symbol of the consular authority, and is thus reproduced like one of the consular attributes par excellence on the representations of consuls in late Antiquity - for example on the consular Diptyque S. The mappa term also came in certain authors, like Malalas, to indicate the races of tanks themselves.

As from the 6th century, the starting signal of the races is allocated to the emperor, towards whom is thus transferred the mappa like symbol from authority: currencies of Phocas and Constant II represent these emperors holding the raised mappa, ready to throw it to give the departure. This type of representation disappears at the 8th century when the Akakia succeeds the mappa.

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