Flag of Greece

This design, from the 14th century during the Palaiologan dynasty, is the only attested flag of the Byzantine Empire.

Flags as they are known today did not exist in antiquity. Instead, a variety of emblems and symbols (σημεῖον, sēmeîon; pl. σημεῖᾰ, sēmeîa) were used to denote each state and were for example painted on the hoplite shields. The closest analogue to a modern flag were the vexillum-like banners used by ancient Greek armies, such as the so-called phoinikis, a cloth of deep red, suspended from the top of a staff or spear. It is not known to have carried any device or decoration though.

The Byzantines, like the Romans before them, used a variety of flags and banners, primarily to denote different military units. These were generally square or rectangular, with a number of streamers attached.[6] Most prominent among the early Byzantine flags was the labarum. In the surviving pictorial sources of the middle and later Empire, primarily the illustrated Skylitzes Chronicle, the predominating colours are red and blue in horizontal stripes, with a cross often placed in the centre of the flag. Other common symbols, prominently featuring on seals, were depictions of Christ, the Virgin Mary and saints, but these represent personal rather than family or state symbols. Western European-style heraldry was largely unknown until the last centuries of the Empire.[7]

There is no mention of any "state" flag until the mid-14th century, when a Spanish atlas, the Conosçimiento de todos los reynos depicts the flag of "the Empire of Constantinople" combining the red-on-white Cross of St George with the "tetragrammatic cross" of the ruling house of the Palaiologoi, featuring the four betas or pyrekvola ("fire-steels") on the flag quarters representing the imperial motto Βασιλεύς Βασιλέων Βασιλεύων Βασιλευόντων ("King of Kings Reigning over those who Rule").[8] The tetragrammatic cross flag, as it appears in quarters II and III in this design, is well documented. In the same Spanish atlas this "plain" tetragrammatic cross flag is presented as (among other places in the Empire) "the Flag of Salonika" and "the real Greece and Empire of the Greeks (la vera Grecia e el imperio de los griegos)". The (quartered) arrangement that includes the Cross of St. George is documented only in the Spanish atlas, and most probably combines the arms of Genoa (which had occupied Galata) with those of the Byzantine Empire, and was most probably flown only in Constantinople.[9] Pseudo-Kodinos records the use of the "tetragrammatic cross" on the banner (phlamoulon) borne by imperial naval vessels, while the megas doux displayed an image of the emperor on horseback.[10]

The merchant vessel Panagia tis Hydras, built 1793, flying the Graeco-Ottoman flag.

Agios Nikolaos (1797) and Poseidon (1815), belonging to the Anargyros brothers from Spetses, flying variants of the Russian flag

During the Ottoman rule several unofficial flags were used by Greeks, usually employing the Byzantine double-headed eagle (see below), the cross, depictions of saints and various mottoes.[9] The Christian Greek sipahi cavalry employed by the Ottoman Sultan were allowed to use their own, clearly Christian flag, when within Epirus and the Peloponnese. It featured the classic blue cross on a white field with the picture of St. George slaying the dragon, and was used from 1431 until 1639, when this privilege was greatly limited by the Sultan. Similar flags were used by other local leaders. The closest to a Greek "national" flag during Ottoman rule was the so-called "Graeco-Ottoman flag" (Γραικοθωμανική παντιέρα), a civil ensign Greek Orthodox merchants (better: merchants from the Greek-dominated Orthodox millet) were allowed to fly on their ships, combining stripes with red (for the Ottoman Empire) and blue (for Orthodoxy) colours. After the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, Greek-owned merchant ships could also fly the Russian flag.

During the uprising of 1769 the historic blue cross on white field was used again by key military leaders, such as Olga the III, who used it all the way to the revolution of 1821. It became the most popular Revolution flag, and it was argued that it should become the national flag. The "reverse" arrangement, white cross on a blue field, also appeared as Greek flag during the uprisings. This design had apparently been used earlier as well, as a local symbol (a similar 16th or 17th century flag has been found near Chania).

A military leader, Yiannis Stathas, used a flag with white cross on blue on his ship since 1800. The first flag featuring the design eventually adopted was created and hoisted in the Evangelistria monastery in Skiathos in 1807. Several prominent military leaders (including Theodoros Kolokotronis and Andreas Miaoulis) had gathered there for consultation concerning an uprising, and they were sworn to this flag by the local bishop.[2]

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  Flag used by the Greek sipahis of the Ottoman army between 1431 and 1619
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  Civil ensign for merchant ships owned by Ottoman subjects belonging to the Greek Orthodox (Rum) millet
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  Civil flag and ensign of the Principality of Samos (1835–1912)
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  Flag of the Septinsular Republic (1800–1807), the first autonomous modern Greek state
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  National flag and ensign of the Cretan State
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  Flag of the Free State of Icaria

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  Proposed flag of Greece as drawn by Rigas Feraios in his manuscripts.
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  Bishop Germanos of Patras blessing the flag of the Greek revolutionaries at the Monastery of Agia Lavra, part of a popular legend regarding the start of the revolution of 1821, although it never actually happened.
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  Flag used by revolutionaries from 1769 to the early stages of the War of Independence

Flags used by various admirals of the Revolutionary Navy from an 1823 manuscript.

Prior and during the early days of the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829), a large variety of flags was designed, proposed and used by various Greek intellectuals in Western Europe, local leaders, chieftains and regional councils. Aside from the cross, many of these flags featured saints, the phoenix (symbolising the rebirth of the Greek nation), mottoes such as "Freedom or Death" (Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος) or the fasces-like emblems of the Philiki Etaireia, the secret society that organised the uprising.

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  The flag of Greece, as proposed by Rigas Feraios in 1797
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  Flag of the Sacred Band with phoenix and motto "from my ashes I'm reborn"
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  Flag of Alexander Ypsilantis
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  Flag of the Areopagus of Eastern Continental Greece
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  The flag of Andreas Londos
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  The flag of Krokodeilos Kladas
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  Flag of the Filiki Eteria with initials of the motto "Freedom or Death"
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  Flag of the Greeks of Thrace
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  Flag of the Maniots
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  Used in Thessaly, created by Anthimos Gazis
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  Flag of Hydra island
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  Flag of Spetses island
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  Flag of Kastellorizo island
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  Flag of Chalkidiki
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  Flag of Athanasios Diakos
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  Flag of the Military-Political System of Samos

The old land flag, still flying over the Old Parliament House in Athens.

Greek Teachers and Graduates of the Evangelical School of Smyrna with greek flag (1878).

European monarchies, aligned in the so-called "Concert of Europe", were suspicious towards national or social revolutionary movements such as the Etaireia. The First Greek National Assembly, convening in January 1822, thus took steps to disassociate itself from the Etaireia's legacy and portray nascent Greece as a "conventional", ordered nation-state.[2] As such, not only were the regional councils abolished in favour of a central administration, but it was decided to abolish all revolutionary flags and adopt a universal national flag. The reasons why the particular arrangement (white cross on blue) was selected, instead of the more popular blue cross on a white field, remain unknown.[2]

On 15 March 1822, the Provisional Government, by Decree Nr. 540, laid down the exact pattern: white cross on blue (plain) for the land flag; nine alternate-coloured stripes with the white cross on a blue field in the canton for the naval ensign; and blue with a blue cross on a white field in the canton for the civil ensign (merchant flag).[1][2] On 30 June 1828, by decree of the Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias, the civil ensign was discontinued, and the cross-and-stripes naval ensign became the national ensign, worn by both naval and merchant ships.[2] This design became immediately very popular with Greeks and in practice was often used simultaneously with the national (plain cross) flag.

On 7 February 1828 the Greek flag was internationally recognised for the first time by receiving an official salutation from British, French, and Russian forces in Nafplio, then the capital of Greece.[11]

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  Greek flag on land, 1822–1969 and 1975–78 as adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus
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  National flag for use abroad and as the civil ensign. Since 1978 the sole national flag of Greece
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  Civil ensign used from 1822 to 1828

The first official specifications for the war flag or naval ensign (published 3 June 1833)

After the establishment of the Kingdom of Greece in 1832, the new king, Otto, added the royal coat of arms (a shield in his ancestral Bavarian pattern topped by a crown) in the centre of the cross for military flags (both land and sea versions).[1] The decree dated 4 (16) April 1833 provided for various maritime flags such as the war flag or naval ensign (set at 18:25), pennant, royal standard (set at 7:10) and civil ensign (i.e. the naval ensign without coat of arms).[12] A royal decree dated 28 August 1858 provided for details on the construction and dimensions concerning the flags described in the 1833 decree and other flags. After Otto's abdication in 1862, the royal coat of arms was removed.

Administrative flags of Greece (1934)

In 1863, the 17-year old Danish prince William was selected as Greece's new king, taking on the name George I. A royal decree dated 28 December 1863 introduced crowns into the various flags in place of the coat of arms.[13] Similar arrangements were made for the royal flags, which featured the coat of arms of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg on a square version of the national flag. A square version of the land flag with St. George in the centre was adopted on 9 April 1864 as the Army's colours.[2][14] The exact shape and usage of the flags was determined by Royal Decree on 26 September 1867.[2][15] By a new Royal Decree, on 31 May 1914, the various flags of Greece and its military were further regulated. By this decree, the flag with the crown was adopted for use as a state flag by ministries, embassies and civil services, while the sea flag (without the crown) was allowed for use by private citizens.[2]

On 25 March 1924, with the establishment of the Second Hellenic Republic, the crowns were removed from all flags.[2] On 20 February 1930, the national flag's proportions were established at a 2:3 ratio, with the arms of the cross being "one fifth of the flag's width". The land version of the national flag was to be used by ministries, embassies, and in general by all civil and military services, while the sea flag was to be used by naval and merchant vessels, consulates and private citizens. On 10 October 1935, Georgios Kondylis declared that the monarchy had been restored. By decree of 7 November 1935, the 31 May 1914 decree was restored.[16] Thereby, the crown was restored on the various flags.[2] Compulsory Law 447 of 1937 described two types of flags allowed for use by private individuals: a fortress-type and a navy-type flag, both identical to the national land and sea flags, but without the crown.

The legal provisions went unaltered for a relatively long period of time. In 1967, a new Compulsory Law (198) regulated the declaration of regional flag days, but did not alter the flag. However, on August 18, 1969, the sea flag was established as the sole national flag[17] and on August 18, 1970, the flag ratio was changed to 7:12 from 2:3.[2] Flags flying in ministries, embassies and public buildings had the crown in the centre of the cross until the official abolition of the monarchy on 1 June 1973 and the use of the crown was officially discontinued on July 16.[18]

After the restoration of democracy, Law 48/1975 and Presidential Decree 515/1975, which entered into effect on 7 June 1975, reversed the situation and designated the former "land flag" as the sole flag of Greece, to be used even at sea. The situation was once again reversed in 1978, when the sea flag once again became the sole flag of Greece and all previous provisions were abolished[2]

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  Naval ensign (1833–1858)
  Proportions: 18:25
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  Naval ensign (1858–1862)
  Proportions: 2:3
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  State flag (1863–1924 and 1935–73)
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  Naval ensign (1863–1924 and 1935–73)
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  National flag (1969–1970)
  Proportions: 2:3
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  National flag (1970–1975) adopted by the Greek military junta
  Proportions: 7:12

It is widely believed that the colours of the Greek flag come from the blue of the sky and the white of the waves.

Several Greek researchers[4][19][20] have attempted to establish a continuity of usage and significance of the blue and white colours, throughout Greek history.

Usages cited include the pattern of blue and white formations included on the shield of Achilles,[19][9] the apparent connection of blue with goddess Athena, some of Alexander the Great's army banners,[4] possible blue and white flags used during Byzantine times,[19][9] supposed coats of arms of imperial dynasties and noble families, uniforms, emperors' clothes, patriarchs' thrones etc.,[4][20] 15th century versions of the Byzantine Imperial Emblems [9] and, of course, cases of usage during the Ottoman rule and the Greek revolution.

On the other hand, the Great Greek Encyclopedia notes in its 1934 entry on the Greek flag that "very many things have been said for the causes which lead to this specification for the Greek flag, but without historical merit".[11]

The use of the Greek flag is regulated by Law 851.[22] More specifically, the law states that:

• When displayed at the Presidential Palace, the Hellenic Parliament, the ministries, embassies and consulates of Greece, schools, military camps, and public and private ships as well as the navy, the flag must:

1. Fly from 8am until sunset,
2. Be displayed on a white mast topped with a white cross on top of a white sphere,
3. Not be torn or damaged in any way. If the flag is damaged, it should be burned in a respectful manner.

• The flag can be displayed by civilians on days specified by the ministry of internal affairs, as well as in sporting events and other occasions of the sort.
• When displayed vertically, the canton must be on the left side of the flag from the point of view of the spectator.
• The flag should never be:

1. Defaced by means of writing or superimposing any kind of image or symbol upon it,
2. Used to cover a statue. In that case, cloth in the national colours must be used,
3. Hung from windows or balconies without the use of a mast,
4. Used for commercial purposes,
5. Used as a logo for any corporation or organization, even at different proportions.

• When placed on top of a coffin, the canton must always be on the right of the person's head.

The government has not specified exactly which shade of blue should be used for the flag, and as such flags with many varying shades exist. In the most recent legislation regarding the national flag, the colours mentioned are:

Because of the use of the word 'cyan' (Greek: κυανός, Kyanos), which can also mean 'blue' in Greek, the exact shade of blue remains ambiguous. Although it implies the use of a light shade of blue, such as on the flag of the United Nations, the colours of the Greek flag tend to be darker, especially during the dictatorship and in recent years, with the exception of the years of the rule of King Otto, when a very light shade of blue was used. Consequently, the shade of blue is largely left to the flagmakers to decide, as shown in the table below.

Ohi Day decorations in Poros.

Law 851/1978 sets the general outline for when the specific days on which the flag should be raised.[22] For national holidays, this applies country-wide, but on local ones it only applies to those areas where the said holiday is being celebrated.[22] Additionally, the flag may also be flown on days of national mourning, half-mast. The Minister of the Interior has the authority to proclaim flag days if they are not already proclaimed, and proclaiming regional flag days is vested with the elected head of each regional unit (formerly prefectures).[22]

Although 17 November is not an official national holiday, Presidential Decree 201/1998 states that respects are to be paid to the flag on that particular day.[27]

The war flag (equivalent to regimental colours) of the Army and the Air Force is of square shape, with a white cross on blue background. On the centre of the cross the image of Saint George is shown on Army war flags and the image of archangel Michael is shown on Air Force war flags.[1]

In the Army war flags are normally carried by infantry, tank and special forces regiments and battalions, by the Evelpidon Military Academy, the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy and the Presidential Guard when in battle or in parade.[28] However, flying a war flag in battle is unlikely with current warfare tactics.

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  Army regimental war flag
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  Air Force and civil air ensign, 1973–1978

The current naval and civil ensigns are identical to the national flag.

The simple white cross on blue field pattern is also used as the Navy's jack and as the base pattern for naval rank flags. These flags are described in Chapter 21 (articles 2101–30) of the Naval Regulations. A jack is also flown by larger vessels of the Hellenic Coast Guard.

Units of Naval or Coast Guard personnel in parade fly the war ensign in place of the war flag.[29]

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  Naval jack of Greece
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  Naval rank flag of the prime minister of Greece
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  Naval rank flag for a full admiral
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  Coast Guard ensign (1973–1980)

In the past a war flag was assigned to the former semi-military Hellenic Gendarmerie, which was later merged with Cities Police to form the current Hellenic Police. The flag was similar to the Army war flag but showing Saint Irene in place of Saint George.[29]

Since the Fire Service and the Hellenic Police are considered civilian agencies, they are not assigned war flags. They use the National Flag instead.[30] Identical rules were applied to the former Cities Police. However, recently the Police Academy has been assigned a war flag, and they paraded for the first time with this flag on Independence Day, March 25, 2011. The flag is similar to the Army war flag, with the image of St George replaced with that of Artemius of Antioch.[31]