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The Banner of Kaviyan (short story)

Introduction
The Banner of Kaviyan
Principality of Gomishan

See also:

Introduction

Harry Turtledove's short story The Banner of Kaviyan was published in the paperback anthology Arabesques in 1988. In it, a scion of the last independent Persian principality c. 800 CE searches for the legendary banner of Kaviyan, hoping to use it as a rallying point in a revolt against Arab rule.
Eugene Ipavec, 18 april 2005

Banner of Kaviyan

It is described in the story as:

"And it was lovely, too: silk of a blue whose secret the dyers hereabouts would slay themselves to learn. Set on it, in gold and silver thread, were the sun and moon our army reverenced."

and later:

"The sun and moon shone in gold and silver the moon on the banner gleamed with a soft silver glow [of its color:] it was as though a section of the bright noon sky had come to rest there"

The flag as described bears little resemblance to the real deal, as described here

One quote from the Shah-nameh is very similar to the banner in the story:

"azure like the sea, a flag flies, bearing the sun image on a violet background and it is crowned by a moon"

Eugene Ipavec, 18 april 2005

Principality of Gomishan

The protagonist's principality of Gomishan has a "black-striped orange banner," referred to elsewhere dismissively as a "tigerskin rag," though not, I believe, literally.
Eugene Ipavec, 18 april 2005