Flag of Greece

The official Flag of Greece was adopted by the First National Assembly on 13th January 1822. The Flag of Greece has primarily two colours, White and Blue. The flag has a blue canton on its upper side which contains a Cross. The cross represents Eastern Orthodox Christianity, which happens to be the most practised religion in Greece. The nine strips you spot on the Flag are of no such meaning. However, a popular theory suggests that these nine stripes represent the syllables of the Phrase, Freedom or Death. 

Meaning of Colors On The Greek Flag

The two colours in the Greek flags, Blue and White, represent primarily the Sea and the Sky, which suggests a popular theory. The colour blue has kept on changing since the inception of the Flag. It has been ranging from Light Blue to Dark Blue. The Greek Flag has been changed and altered multiple times, but it has always been kept in mind to include the colours Blue and White. Some theories have suggested that the Blue colour in the Greek Flag represents the connection with Goddess Athena. Some theories even suggested that the pattern of Blue and White was also used as it signified the same colours on the Shield of Achilles. 

The Ancient Greek Flag

Some historians consider that the design of the current Greek Flag has been inspired by an Ancient Greek Flag which was identical to that of the very Cretan Kallergis Family. Each element of the present-day Greek Flag can be connected to the Ancient Greek Flag.

During the Antiquity and Byzantine Empire, they used a variety of flags and banners, and the main objective of using such flags and banners was to denote the different military units. These Flags used during the Antiquity and Byzantine Empire are known to be one of the most ancient Greek Flags.

Unlike the present-day Greek Flag, the Ancient Greek Flag during the Antiquity and Byzantine Empire had Red and Yellow as its colours. One of the most well known Ancient Flags to have been known is Labarum. Up till the 14th Century, there was not any Official State Flag. However, a Spanish atlas by the name of   Conosçimiento de todos Los reynos suggests that the Latin Empire of Constantinople used a flag. It had a red on a white cross of St George embedded in it. It featured four “betas” (Fire Steels). The Flag was divided into four quarters. 

During the Ottoman Period, The Greeks used a number of unofficial flags. The Christian Greek Sipahi cavalry used their Flag. This Flag had a classic blue cross on a white field with a picture of St George slaying a dragon. Different Local Leaders also used similar flags. The Graeco – Ottoman Flag during the Ottoman Empire was the closest to the Greek National Flag.

During the year 1769, the historical blue cross on the white field was used by key military leaders. The First Flag was created and hoisted in the Evangelistria Monastery in 1807. During the Revolution, this Flag became well known, and it was also argued that this Flag should become the National Flag of Greece. 

Revolutionary Flag

During the pre-independence era and after that in Greece, various types of flags were designed of various shapes and sizes and were used and proposed by various Greek Intellectuals, local leaders, chiefs and regional councils.

• Flag of the Sacred Band: The Flag of the Sacred Band was tricolour. On one side of the Flag, the words “EN TOYTO NIKA” were written, and on the other side of the Flag, there was a picture of the Phoenix regenerated from the flames.

• The Flag of Andreas Londos: The Flag used by Andreas Londos had red as its primary colour. The Flag had only one colour, which was red, and it had a Black colour cross in its centre. 
• Flag of the Military System of Samos – This Flag had White as its primary colour with red borders and a red cross symbol in the middle, with the words HE and HO written on either side.

Conclusion

The Current Greek Flag has been adopted from the ancient Greek flags. Some elements of the present Greek Flag can be traced and connected back to the ancient Greek Flags. The colour can be traced back to Ancient Greek Flags and also, and the cross can be seen in different other Greek Flags. The Flag of Greece was officially adopted on 22nd December 1978. 27th October is considered to be the Greek Flag Day. One can also see the old Greek Flag at the Old Parliament Building in the City of Athens. Different parts of Greece used different flags, but after getting independence, a single flag was agreed upon and adopted by all.