current flag of the Hellenic Republic - a small unitary State, located in southern Europe - is a rectangular cloth, which depicts nine horizontal stripes of white and blue colors.At the top left of the flag there is a blue square box inside which there is a white cross with the same along the length of the rays.Flag of Greece at the Olympics traditionally rises first.Banner blue and white colors, with a special arrangement of the cross and an odd number of lanes marks opening ceremony of the most important sporting events in the world.After all, the tradition of the Olympic Games originated in ancient Greece, it was in 776 BC.e.In this article we will talk about how to change the main state symbol of the country for centuries, it is personified and how inspired the Greek people during the liberation wars against the Turkish conquerors.
What does the flag of modern Greece?
Banner Hellenic Republic represents his country, freedom and God's wisdom.Nine stripes on the flag reminiscent of the nine syllables of the national motto, which marked the country's liberation from the Turkish yoke in the war years 1821-1829.- "Eleftheria and Thanatos!"(means "Freedom or death!").They also symbolize the nine geographical regions of the Hellenic Republic - Macedonia, Thessaly, Thrace, Epirus, Peloponness, Ionian Islands, Crete, Aegean and Central Greece with about.Euboea.In general, for the Greeks the number 9 has a sacred meaning.The cross represents the Christian religion, the people's faith in God and a huge part of the Greek Orthodox Church in the difficult liberation war.White cross and four bands symbolizes the primordial world, the purity of ideals, the holy character of the struggle for independence.The national flag of Greece also has a blue color.It represents a peaceful and cloudless sky, the blessing of the Lord God in the fight, as well as sea - Cretan, Aegean, Mediterranean and Ionian washing the Greek islands.Now you know that symbolizes the flag of Greece.Photo shows the look of the most important symbol of the government in our day.
As the Greek flag was modified over time?
For centuries the form of government of Greece has repeatedly changed, and, of course, with her changed and national symbols.In the time of ancient Greece and Hellenistic flags as such did not exist.Instead of banners used posters that were placed on the sails of ships and shields of warriors.Such signs symbolized affiliation to any policy.It is believed that the first flag, appeared in Greece were Roman military banners, called vexillum.It is a rectangular piece of cloth attached to the crossbar perpendicular to the shaft.Vexillum were used during the battle for the designation of various military units, as well as a battle flag on the flagship of the tents or generals.
Labarum Byzantine emperors
In the Byzantine period of Greek history flags continued to serve as a Battle Standard.The most important ones at that time were so-called Labarum - the banner of the Byzantine emperors.In the surviving sources ("Madrid Chronicles") reported that the flag of Ancient Greece is often carried out in blue and red colors.Typically, in the center of the cloth placed Labarum Christian symbols - the cross, images of saints, Jesus Christ or the Virgin.In the 14th century the Byzantine Empire, ruling almost all Greek territory, has its first national flag.It was a split into four square-shaped cloth.In the two quarters on a white background was placed red St. George's Cross.The other two - the image of the flag of the last dynasty of the Byzantine rulers, Palaeologus.
Which flag Greece was in the period of Ottoman rule
In 1389 the Turks defeated the Serbs and Bulgarians, headed south to Greece.Athens fell to the invading army in 1458, and the Peloponnese - in 1460-m.By 1500, almost all the territory of the plains of Greece and most of the islands were under the yoke of the Ottoman Empire.It came one of the most difficult periods in the history of the Greek people.However, the Turks gave the Greeks religious freedom and authorized the use of traditional symbolism.For example, groups of Greek warriors volunteers as part of the Turkish troops went under the special flag until 1619 He was depicted a cross and George defeating the dragon.In the 17th century private merchant vessels of the Greeks went under a special commercial tricolor with two red and one blue stripe.It looked like the flag of Greece at the time, can be seen in the following photo.Red means the Ottoman Empire, and blue - the Greek people.This standard was used until 1830 Also in 1774, after the signing of the Treaty of Kuchuk Kaynarca agreement, the Greek merchant ships were allowed to sail under the Russian flag.
Greek flag in the late 18th - early 19th century
During the Second Peloponnesian revolt in 1770 (against the oppression of the Turks), the Greeks began to use a special cloth is white with a blue cross of St. George.In the future, this banner became a symbol of the struggle of the Greek Christians against the Ottoman oppressors.Over time, the flag was added overturned crescent.Cross began to be depicted on it.In 1800 it was founded the first Greek state in the Ionian Islands, free from Turkish rule.What is the flag of Greece was then?Up until 1863 it served as a banner of blue cloth, on which was depicted a golden winged lion of St. Mark, holding one paw on the book.In 1815 it was added to the red border, and in 1817 - the British Union Jack (a sign of protection in Britain).
country's flag during the national liberation war
In the 20s of the 19th century in Greece appeared different movements, who had their own banners.Rebels Ionian islands have built a flag with three stripes - white, red and green colors.On the banner near the staff, it was depicted a black double-headed eagle.The movement, led by Nikoforosom Fokas, marked the flag consists of four white and five blue stripes.In the upper left side of the flag was depicted a white cross and the inscription "With this you will win!".The movement, led by Alexander Ypsilanti, the flag was composed of black, red and white stripes.Also on the panel were scenes Exaltation of the Cross of St. Constantine and Elena and the phoenix rising from the flames.Banner contain inscriptions: "With him win!"and "I rise from the ashes."What is the flag of Greece early 19th century, you can see in the following photo.In 1821 he became the first official symbol of the country and was consecrated Metropolitan.However, after the motion was defeated, that character disappeared.In March of 1821 in Greece, there was one banner - dark red flag at the center of which were shown black inverted cross and a crescent below it.Then the black cross was replaced with white.This banner became known as the national flag.
flag of Greece in the first half of the 19th century
In March 1822 the provisional government of Greece has issued a decree, which was approved by national, Navy, and the flag of the armed forces.The first was a blue rectangular flag, the center of which there was a white Cross of St. George.The second consisted of nine alternating bands of blue and white, with a cross in the first quarter.The third was the same as the first.In 1832 the monarchy was established, and the flag of Greece was modified.On the panel to add an image of the corona shield.The latter was removed after the abdication of King Otto I. In 1941-1944,.Greek People's Liberation Army was fighting against the German occupiers under the blue flag in the center of the cross which was placed contour triangle inscribed in a circle.Flag of Greece was again subjected to change in 1967, when a military junta came to power so-called colonels, led by Georgios Papadopoulos.Image crown was removed from the cloth.From 1974 to 1978, after the overthrow of the junta once again used a blue flag with the Cross of St. George.And in December 1978, it was approved by the state and the national flag of Greece, such as we see it today.
