"The pattern and colors of the Greek Flag haven't changed a lot since the Revolution of the Greek Nation in 1821. Many people wonder why the founders of the Hellenic Democracy have chosen the symbols, patterns and colors that appear on the National Flag of Greece. It is difficult to unreveal the true intentions of the people responsiblefor the selection of
the flag. This is a personal attempt to interpret thedesigns and colors of the flag and its relation to Greece and Hellenism".

THE DESIGN AND PATTENS OF THE FLAG

"The number of the lines is based on the number of the syllables in the Greek phrase: Eleutheria H Thanatos (Freedom or Death)".

FREEDOM OR DEATH

"Freedom or Death was the motto during the years of the Hellenic Revolution against the Ottoman Empire in the 19nth century [There are claims that the number of lines reflects the number of letters in the greek word for Freedom which equals 9]. This word stirred theheart of the oppressed Greeks, it created intense emotions and inspired them to fight and
gain their freedom after 400 years of slavery. The line pattern was chosen because of their similarity with the wavy sea that surounds the shores of Greece.The interchange of blue and white colors makes the Hellenic Flag on a windy day to look like the Aegean Pelagos. Only the quaint islands are missing! The Greek Square Cross that rests on the upper left-side ofthe flag and occupies one fourth of the total area demonstrates the respect and the devotion the Greek people have for the Greek 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 Greek Orthodox Church helped the enslaved Greeks to retain their cultural characteristics: the Greek language, the Byzantine religion and generally the Greek ethnic identity, by the institution of the Crypha Scholia (hidden 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 theirancestors and the rest oftheir cultural heritage. Today, Christianity is still the dominant religion among Greeks. Therefore the existence of the Cross is justified."

THE COLORS OF THE FLAG

"Blue and White! These two colors symbolize the blue of the Greek Sea 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. There are some who suggest that the blue and white was symbolizes the similar color of the clothing (vrakes) of the Greek sailors during the Greek War of Independence."

good post woggy, i have heard that the white is for the purity of the greeks...

Blue is for Ε-ΛΕΦ-ΘΕ-ΡΙ-Α. White is for Η ΘΑ-ΝΑ-ΤΟΣ
Hence 5 blue stripes for ΕΛΕΦΘΕΡΙΑ and 4 white stripes for Η ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ

Provo Wogy top post!!! :thumbs:

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Blue is for Ε-ΛΕΦ-ΘΕ-ΡΙ-Α. White is for Η ΘΑ-ΝΑ-ΤΟΣ
Hence 5 blue stripes for ΕΛΕΦΘΕΡΙΑ and 4 white stripes for Η ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ

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Niko spot on B)

Hence the flag on my and JJ's Signature, there are few different variations of them...

and they would never ever put red on the greek flag as it resembles blood which reminds the greeks of the perils they endured during the civil and world wars...

the only reason why greece doesn't have red on there flag is to show that we are not a war country and we are not ready for war , flags with red on them are highly influenced with army and war as for greeks flag is more suttle layed back.

How are we not a war country? Maybe not war mongering but we have a huge history of war

The cross might mean something else...

i will not say so i will not cause offence....

sometimes.....religion isnt the only answer

i've always thought it was for religious purposes...what else could it mean im curious now

red symbolises war , all army tactics are based on greek ancient war tactics and untill today they are still used.

here here, akoma mathenoune apo emas

So?? I still dont understand why we are not a war country just because our flag isnt red. Is Switzerland a war country?

Switzerland has red in there flag, and they are a nuetral country, hasnt been in any war since when?

sorry, thats not true, like i said, Switzerland is a neutral country and they have red in there flag...

update: sorry i didnt realise you had mentioned it already Niko....

signome for the double post

At greek school we learnt the cross was beccause God or panagia helpd the greeks win the war. and that the white stipes symbolised the frothy stuff in the ocean when theres waves.
and that red was for war and greeks never wanted the war, but the turks did thats why there flag is red.

ELEUTHERIA H THANATOS

as if red represents war...

china has red on its flag and its the most peaceful country around...

in fact not seeing red on a flag makes me feel uncomfortable...

the greek flag makes one feel something is misisng...it needs a splash of red i think just around the cross area..

Thats just stupid, why would you put red in the flag

Greek merchant ships had a flag with 3 stripes, red blue then red, during Ottoman rule,

You wouldnt put red, it gives mixed messages, too turkish

And red doesnt necessarily represent war, other meanings include passion, love, imperialism etc

The Yellow and Black Byzantine flag flew a red background during war and yellow at a time of peace.
Of course, what was 'peace' and what was 'war' was decided by the Emperor at the time.

I like our flag, it's not so common i.e. Italian and Hungarian flag.

Yeah the Greek flag just kicks ass. We were holding it out of the window last night after the water polo, looked mad blowing in the wind.

It's distinguishable, I got the simea on my bracelet and is it is instantly recognisable that I'm Greek and you don't have to look twice and think "What's that country"

well i am happy to give you some insight.

the cross is NOT a christian cross.

the whole greek revolution was created through and by freemasons.

the whole meaning of the "filiki eteria" was masonic.
it occurred at a time when revolutions had been sponsored by freemasons in france against the monarchy and america by george washington who was of course a freemason.

kolokotronis was a freemason as well ipsilantis and regas fereos.
today in greece masonic lodges have been named after these people.

freemasonry in greece was given a bad name because most of the guys behind the revolution of april 21 1967 such as papadopoulos ,patakos,and ioannidis were freemasons.
their attacks on democracy brought the whole movement under a cloud of suspicion.

the freemasons created the flag.
it represented the cross of ancient egypt.
it is a pagan sign which to get the masses on side for the revolution was called "christian".

it has nothing todo with christianity.

i know most of you dont believe this,but it is true.

freemasonry is NOT a christian organisaion and therefore believes in some ancient symbols..

there is nothing sinister in this guys.
it just is a different way in looking at the world.

the whole state of modern Greece was a freemasonic creation.


the biggest freemason and the one today who is viewed as one of our greatest leaders was of course Eleftherios Venizelos.

by the way,ataturk was also a freemason.

just so you understand some of the futility of the hatred aginst our brothers,and how futile the loss of life is when theres an agenda.

about the cross:
note that it is an even sided cross. it is not of the shape of they cross from Christianity. the misconception exists here because many greeks think it represents greece's belief in being Christian orthodox. this belief exists largely because Greece long to opposite and enemy (turkey) has a moon on its flag, which symbolises Islam

many believe the cross actually stands for- north, south, east west( the for corners of Greece) &, man, woman, and equality. this is why it is two equal sides.

It was certainly not a religious reference, as it was designed by the filiki eteria, who where not Christian Orthodox.

Russel spot on!!!!!!
the church now claims the cross as a religious symbol in order to reserve it influence.

Most people didn¢t know but the Church was against the revolution in the beginning. why???it was at its most powerful under ottoman control. greeks were never slaves they just paid heavier taxes to their colonial power. the church though governed every day life.

now all the hard work the heros of that time did has been stolen and claim as their own doing..

typical, yet another example of how power corrupts.

athineos.u make some great points.

greek rule under the turks wsnt all just being beheaded...

some greeks did quite well.
the church defintely did well,thats why they didnt want a revolution.

if u ever go to ydra,u will see some houses built by merchant greeks who made their money trading under the turkish empire..basically,the greeks were so high up in the ottoman empire they practically ran the empire...

and greeks werent forced to become muslims.the reason being they had to pay higher taxes for being non muslim.

life under the turks wasnt as bad as life under the venetians...in fact most populace which in the ionian islands and epirus was under the venetians and resented it far worse...

i forgot to say.

greek peasants were able to have permanent control and work of the land.though the turkish ruler changed,the greek peasants had permamnet positions.

this provided stability.

greeks in the 1500s and 1600s were better off then the european peasants who could be kicked out at any time off the land they worked on..