Adoption of the Greek Flag: What Happened
In 1822, the First National Assembly at Epidaurus adopted blue and white as the national colors of Greece, and a law of March 1822 set out the first official flags of the new state. Blue and white have deep roots in Greek identity. They are often linked to the colors of the sea and sky, and they had been used in some revolutionary banners, although the exact origin of the choice is debated. The revolutionary government established a naval flag with nine blue and white stripes and a white cross on a blue square in the corner, and a land flag with a white cross on a blue background. According to a popular interpretation, the nine stripes represent the nine syllables of the revolutionary motto Eleftheria i Thanatos, meaning Freedom or Death, though this was not officially stated. The cross represents the Orthodox faith. Over the following century and a half, the design and use of the flags changed several times. In 1978, the striped flag became the sole national flag of Greece, as it remains today.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Greece adopt blue and white?
Blue and white were adopted as the national colors of Greece by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus in 1822, and a law that year set the first official flags.
What do the nine stripes on the Greek flag mean?
A popular interpretation says the nine stripes represent the nine syllables of the motto Eleftheria i Thanatos, Freedom or Death, though this was never officially stated.
What does the cross on the Greek flag represent?
The white cross represents the Greek Orthodox faith, which was closely tied to Greek identity during the revolution.
Why is the Greek flag blue and white?
Blue and white are often linked to the colors of the Greek sea and sky, though the exact origin of the choice is debated by historians.
When did the striped flag become the only national flag?
In 1978, the striped flag became the sole national flag of Greece, replacing the land flag with a white cross on a blue background.
More Events from Greek War of Independence
