Explanation: Amongst Italic peoples of antiquity, great moral and religious value was placed on the standards of each unit, and to lose a standard was considered a great dishonor. This comic is most likely directly referencing when a unit of Italian allies fighting alongside Rome had their commander throw their standard into the jaws of a Macedonian phalanx, causing the Italians to hurl themselves against the 20-foot long pikes in their desperation to retrieve it, with significant losses on both sides.