The Greek flag

Η Ελληνική σημαία: Η σημασία της
The Greek flag: Its meaning
Lily Technology


The meaning of the pattern and colours of the Greek flag helps to understand the inner word of the Greek people. Flags have been used since the Revolution of the Greek Nation against the Ottoman Empire, in 25th March 1821. The founders of the modern Greek state choose this pattern and colours to express themselves. The National Flag of Greece appears on the top of the page. Although it is difficult to unreveal the true intentions of the people responsible for the selection of the pattern and colours of the flag an interpretation give us a best approach.

The number of the lines is based on the number of the syllables in the Greek phrase: "Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος" (Ε-λευ-θε-ρί-α ή Θά-να-τος / E-leu-the-ri-a H Tha-na-tos), which means "Freedom or Death". Freedom or Death was the motto during the years of the Hellenic Revolution against the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. According to another interpretation the number of lines reflects the number of letters in the Greek word for Freedom which equals 9. This word stirred the heart of the oppressed Greeks, it created intense emotions and inspired them to fight and gain their freedom after approximately 400 years of slavery.

The line pattern resembles the wavy sea that surrounds the shores of Greece. The interchange of blue and white colours makes the Hellenic Flag on a windy day to look like the sea that surrounds the land. Only the quaint islands are missing!

The square Cross that rests on the upper left-side of the flag and occupies one fourth of the total area demonstrates the respect and the devotion the Greek people have for the Orthodox Church and signifies the important role of Christianity in the formation of the modern Hellenic Nation. During the dark years of the Ottoman rule, the Orthodox Church helped the enslaved Greeks to retain their cultural characteristics: the Greek language, to continue the Byzantine culture, which itself was a continuation of the Hellenistic culture which in turn was based on the classical Greek culture, and generally the Greek ethnic identity, by the institution of the Crypha Scholia (hidden (night) schools). The Crypha Scholia were a web of schools that operated secretly throughout Greece and were committed in transmitting to the Greeks the wonders of their ancestors and the rest of their cultural heritage. Today, Christianity is still the dominant religion among Greeks with about 98% of them following the Eastern Christian Orthodox Faith. For 2000 years!!!. Therefore the existence of the Cross is justified.

The two colours, blue and white, symbolizes the blue colour of the sea that surrounds the land and the whiteness of the restless Greeks waves. According to the mythic legends, the Goddess of Beauty, Aphrodite emerged from these waves. In addition, it reflects the blue of the Greek sky and the white of the few clouds that travel in it. According to another interpretation the blue and white symbolizes the similar colours of the clothing (vrakes) of the Greek sailors during the Greek War of Independence.

More information in the near future...

Τελευταία Ενημέρωση: 1η Οκτωβρίου 1999 / Last Updated: 1st October 1999
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