200 years ago, on 13 January 1822, the design of the Greek Flag is adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus.
200 years ago, on 13 January 1822, the design of the Greek Flag is adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus.
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The national flag of Greece, popularly referred to as the “blue and white” (Greek: Γαλανόλευκη, Galanólefki) or the “sky blue and white” (Κυανόλευκη), is officially recognised by Greece as one of its national symbols and has nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white.
There is a blue canton in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolises Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the prevailing religion of Greece.
The flag was officially adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus on 13 January 1822.
The blazon of the flag is Azure, four bars Argent; on a canton of the field a Greek cross throughout of the second. The official flag ratio is 2:3.
The shade of blue used in the flag has varied throughout its history, from light blue to dark blue, the latter being increasingly used since the late 1960s.
According to popular tradition, the nine stripes represent the nine syllables of the phrase Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος (“Freedom or Death”), the five blue stripes for the syllables Ελευθερία and the four white stripes ή Θάνατος. *Eleftheria i thanatos* is the national motto of Greece.
There is also a different theory, that the nine stripes symbolise the nine Muses, the goddesses of art and civilisation (nine has traditionally been one of the numbers of reference for the Greeks)
White and blue have been interpreted as symbolising the colours of the sky and sea.
Of course, [**this**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Greece#/media/File:Flag_of_Greece_(1822-1978).svg) was the flag that was adopted in 1822.
The current flag with the stripes was just the maritime flag, but made the national flag in 1978.
(I personally would like to go back to the old flag, but I’m in the minority).
The flag artist: “It aint much but its honest work”
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In my opinion, this is one of the coolest flags of Europe. It is very distinguishable from other flags, since most are Red White blue three stripe flags or just normal cross-flags. The flag of greece is different and the colours White and blue make it shine. It’s easy to spot when watching sports competitions on tv because of the colours.
Obligatory:
https://www.reddit.com/r/polandball/comments/3rjiw5/the_importance_of_color_regulation/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
It’s a unique flag for sure in Europe
🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷
ok
It’s one of the flags I find really beautiful. The colors are great and I like the cross and stripes patterns.
Love the flag but always thought it was weird having a cross.
!wave
You mean 200 years ago Bavarian-Western-Europe, made up a state out of thin air. Revived some anient legends and folkrore about “Hellens”, extinct people not seen around for 2000 years. Got a [Bavarian king](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_of_Greece) Otto, to rule the paper state. Got [a flag based on Bavaria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Bavaria).
Placed a bunch of middle eastern, Albanians, Gypsy and Turk people to “fake” “ancient Hellens”. Later 100 years ago were reinforced with another milion or additional [30% of the population from Turkish people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_exchange_between_Greece_and_Turkey#Estimated_numbers).
And voilà you have a “greece” a name never seen in the past, and a state never seen in the last 2000 years, magically created out of thin air.
Amazing bros <3
🇹🇷🤝🇬🇷
I’ve heard they chose the blue and white because of a Bavarian prince that became king of Greece.
Looks like Chelsea
🇬🇷♥️🇹🇷
It’s a pretty good flag. Good job guys.
That flag is AWESOME