Greek Flag

Greek Flag

 

FLAGS - NATIONS - HISTORY - GEOGRAPHY

The Flag of Greece - Description of the Greek Flag
  • As the above picture of the Greek Flag indicates the overall background is Blue and white
  • The description of the Greek Flag is as follows:
    • Nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white
    • Blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross
    • The cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of Greece
  • According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the Greek flag represent the following:
    • White - peace and honesty and the White colour of the Greek waves
    • Blue - vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice and the blue of the Greek Sea
 

 
 
  • The basic style shown in the picture of the Greek flag is described as the Greek Cross reflecting the central design of the flag pattern
  • All Flag pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view, from left to right
  • The shape and flag ratio of the Greek flag is described as 7:12
  • The upper left quarter of the flag is called the Canton and pictures the Greek Cross
  • The Meaning & History of the Greek Flag
    • The Greek cross symbolises Greek Orthodoxy and the nine stripes are one for each of the syllables of the phrase "Freedom or Death" - "Eleutheria H Thanatos" (E-ley-the-ri-a i Tha-na-tos)
    • "Freedom or Death" was the motto used during the 19th century during the years of the Hellenic Revolution against the Ottoman Empire
    • The line pattern was chosen because of their similarity with the wavy sea that surounds the shores of Greece
    • The Greek Flag was adopted during the Revolution of the Greek Nation in 1821
 

Canton - Flag Terminology

Flag Terminology - Did you Know ?
  • The design and description uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
  • Animal blazons should always appear with the heads facing the flag - staff side
  • The Study of the Flags is called Vexillology
  • Your interest in flags makes you a Vexillologist!
  • Increase your knowledge - Play the Flag Quiz
 
 
Greek Flag Etiquette
  • Greek Flag etiquette is very strict and is is essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
  • Basic Flag Etiquette applies to all nations, including Greek as follows:
  • Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag
    • National Flag of Greek
    • State Flag of Greek
    • Military Flag of Greek (in order of creation date)
    • Other Flag of Greek
  • The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting a national flag including the Greek Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag
  • The National flag of Greek should never be flown above another national flag on the same staff as this would suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or Nation, over another
  • The Greek flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground
  • A tattered or faded flag of Greek should be removed and replaced with a new flag
  • Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the Greek flag is always flown the correct way up
  • A Flag of Greek, when in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in private with all due care and respect
 
Flag History & Evolution:
  • The idea of flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield
  • Shields were painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
  • Warriors needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying a pole was adopted
  • An emblem such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the pole for identification
  • The emblems were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats of Arms  were born
  • These emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
  • The Romans were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
  • The strict rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and creating a new flag
 
 
Terminology & Etiquette in Greek Flag display
  • Hoist - the act or function of raising the Greek flag, as on a rope
  • Half Staff or Half Mast - the Greek flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
    • Performed by first raising the Greek flag to the top, then lowering the Greek Flag halfway
  • Distress - denoted by flying the Greek flag upside-down
  • Manner of hoisting - The Greek flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously
  • No disrespect should be shown to the Greek flag
  • The Greek flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way
  • The Greek flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
  • The Greek flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
  • International Flag relating to Greek Flag usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace
  • We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding Greek Flag Etiquette has provided a useful resource
 

National Flags of the World Map

Greece

Location: Southern Europe, bordering
the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and
the Mediterranean Sea,
between Albania and Turkey

 
 
Greece
  • Land Size of Greece : 130,800 sq km
  • Climate / Weather of Greece : temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
  • Greek Population : 10,647,529 (July 2004 est.)
  • Former Name(s) : Kingdom of Greece
  • Greek Capital City: Athens
  • Greek GDP: $212.2 billion (2003 est.)
  • Main Industries : tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
  • Agricultural products : wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products
  • Greek Currency : euro (EUR)
  • Main Colors of the Greek Flag : Blue and white
 
Ancient Greek History
  • 2900-2000 BC The Bronze Age - Early Aegean cultures emerge
  • 2500 BC - The Minoan civilization
  • 1200 BC - The Trojan War and the destruction of Priam's city at Troy (Ilium)
  • 1050-750 BC - The Dark Ages of Greece and the fall of the Mycenean
  • 850 - 700 BC - Development of the Greek Alphabet
  • 776 BC - The First Olympic Games
  • 750 -700 BC - Homer writes the Iliad and the Odyssey
  • 750-500 BC - The Archaic Period
  • 730-710 BC - the First Messenian War and the Spartans conquer southwest Peloponnese
  • 650 Rise of the tyrants
  • 621 BC Draco's code of law
  • 600 BC Coin currency introduced
 
 
  • 500-323 BC - the Classical Period
  • 505 Cleisthenes founds democracy in Athens
  • 490-479 BC - the Greek /  Persian Wars led by Xerxes
  • 468 BC - Sophocles writes his first tragedy
  • 461-446 BC - The Peloponnesian Wars begins between Sparta and Athens
  • 449-432 - Construction of the Parthenon and the Acropolis in Athens
  • 441 BC - Euripides writes his first tragedy
  • 443 - 429 BC Pericles becomes leader of Athens
  • 430 BC Plague in Athens
  • 431-405 BC - Second of the Peloponnesian Wars between Sparta and Athens
  • 420 - 410 Construction of Temple of Athena Nike
  • 399 BC - Socrates is tried and executed for his opposition to the Thirty Tyrants
  • 386 BC - Plato, student of Socrates, founds the Academy
  • 384 BC - Aristotle, student of Plato, is born
  • 359 BC - Philip II becomes the king of Macedon
  • 356 BC - Alexander the Great, son of Philip II, is born
  • 333 BC - Alexander the Great of Macedonia defeats the Persians at Issus and is given Egypt by the
 
  • Persian Satrap where he builds a capital at Alexandria
  • 323 BC - Alexander the Great dies at Babylon
  • 323-31 BC - The Hellenistic Period
  • 300 BC - Ptolemy I founds museum in Alexandria
  • 224 BC - Earthquake destroys the Colossus of Rhodes
  • 200 - 196 BC First Roman victories over Greece
  • 197 BC - King Philip V loses to Roman forces at Kynoskephalai
  • 86 BC - The Roman General Sulla captures Athens
  • 267 AD - The Goths sack Athens, Sparta, and Corinth
  • 286 AD - The Roman Emperor Diocletian divides the Roman empire in two forming modern Greece (the Byzantine Empire)
  • 641 AD - The Slavs overrun Greece
  • The above information provides a concise background to the Ancient Greek civilisation
 
 
  • 500-323 BC - the Classical Period
  • 505 Cleisthenes founds democracy in Athens
  • 490-479 BC - the Greek /  Persian Wars led by Xerxes
  • 468 BC - Sophocles writes his first tragedy
  • 461-446 BC - The Peloponnesian Wars begins between Sparta and Athens
  • 449-432 - Construction of the Parthenon and the Acropolis in Athens
  • 441 BC - Euripides writes his first tragedy
  • 443 - 429 BC Pericles becomes leader of Athens
  • 430 BC Plague in Athens
  • 431-405 BC - Second of the Peloponnesian Wars between Sparta and Athens
  • 420 - 410 Construction of Temple of Athena Nike
  • 399 BC - Socrates is tried and executed for his opposition to the Thirty Tyrants
  • 386 BC - Plato, student of Socrates, founds the Academy
  • 384 BC - Aristotle, student of Plato, is born
  • 359 BC - Philip II becomes the king of Macedon
  • 356 BC - Alexander the Great, son of Philip II, is born
  • 333 BC - Alexander the Great of Macedonia defeats the Persians at Issus and is given Egypt by the
 
Concise History of Greece & its Flag
  • 1204-1261AD -  The Crusades and the Latin rule of Constantinople
    1207 Marco Sandolo founded the Duchy of Naxos
  • 1387 - the Ionian Islands are brought under Venetian rule
    1453 - Byzantium / Constantinople falls to the Ottoman Turks
  • 15th Century - 19th Century - Greece under Turkish rule
  • 1538 - the coasts of Crete are attacked by the pirate Khair-ed-din Barbarossa
  • 1566 - the fall of Chios - the Ottoman Turks control of all the east Aegean islands
  • 1626 - a famine on Crete reduces the population by a fifth
  • 1797 - the Ionian Islands are conquered by France
  • 1821 - Greek revolution and declaration of national independence
  • 1832 - A 17 year old Bavarian prince, Otto, is crowned King of Greece
  • 1864 - the Ionian Islands become part of independent Greece
 
 
  • 1878 - British rule of Cyprus
  • 1912 - King Constantine leads the Greek army against the Turks in Macedonia to victory
  • 1912 - 13 - the Balkan Wars
    1913 - Crete and the Northeast Aegean Islands become part of independent Greece
  • 1914 -1918 World War I
  • 1923 - the exchange of Greek and Turkish populations (the Greco-Turkish population exchange)
  • 1939-45 - World War II
  • August 1945 The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The Greek Flag and Nation

We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding the Greek Flag and Country has provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and it's fun!

 

Greek Flag

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