List of Greek flags

This is a list of flags used in the modern state of Greece or historically used by Greeks.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	In use since 1822 (as the Greek naval ensign), and from 1978 onwards as the sole National Flag.	The current Flag of Greece was adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus in January 1822 as the official naval ensign of the country. Between 1822 and 1978, this flag was flown on Greek vessels and also used for foreign service. In 1978, it was established as the sole National Flag of Greece, and as the war and civil Ensign, and has been used in that capacity ever since.	Nine horizontal stripes of equal width; five blue alternating with four white. Number nine stands for the syllables of the National Motto of Greece. Blue canton (rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner of the flag) of square shape, five stripes wide, bearing a white Greek cross at its center, with the arms of the cross being one stripe wide. Canton and stripe elements combined properly, in a harmonious and complementary fashion. Flag ratio is 2:3 and color shade is traditionally intermediate, neither light, nor dark, although its precise shade is not officially stipulated by law.
	Same as above. Particular shade of blue introduced in 1970.	Same as above.	Variant of the Greek National Flag in 2:3 aspect ratio and in a "midnight blue" shade. Although legally valid and fully equivalent to the version depicted above, flag variants in darker shades of blue are reminiscent of the flag used between 1970 and 1975 as introduced by the Regime of the Colonels, albeit in a 7:12 rather than a 2:3 aspect ratio for the duration of that time period.

Date	Use	Description
since 1979	Distinguishing flag of the president of the Hellenic Republic (president of Greece). Used to show the presence of the President of the Republic (in vehicles, buildings etc.). This flag also used as a Rank flag in the Hellenic Navy's ships mainmast when the President of the Republic is aboard (according to Article 45 of the Greek Constitution, the President of the Republic is the head of the Armed Forces, so as Rank flag this flag is regarded as equivalent to the flag of an Admiral of the Fleet or superior).	Square flag bearing the coat of arms of Greece. A square field of blue color, with an escutcheon encircled by a golden laurel wreath (consisting of two laurel branches) placed at its center. An escutcheon of French 17th Century Style; (near square with rounded lower corners and a gentle tip at its bottom middle) its color azure; (blue of a shade identical to that of the field surrounding it) its border line golden, continuous, discreet; bearing a Greek Cross argent (cross with arms of equal length and of white color) at its center. Cross formed thus: regular perpendicular lines perform 3x3 division of the escutcheon surface area; corner squares azure; all others argent. In short, Greek Cross argent, escutcheon azure, laurel wreath or, field azure. (items centralized) The standard is usually produced in four sizes (1st 1.70 m (5.58 ft) sides, 2nd 1.10 m (3.61 ft) sides, 3d 0.65 m (2.13 ft) sides and 4th 0.23 m (0.75 ft) sides).
1973–1974	Presidential flag during the republican phase of the Regime of the Colonels (June 1973 - July 1974).	A golden phoenix rising from the flames on a dark "midnight blue" background.
1924–1935	Presidential flag during the Second Hellenic Republic.	White cross on azure field.

Date	Use	Description
1936–1974	Royal standard of the king, adopted in 1936.^[1]	Like the Navy jack, with the royal family arms in the centre and four crowns in the quarters.
1936–1974	Standard of the crown prince, adopted in 1936.^[1]	Like the Navy jack, with the Greek royal family arms in the centre and one crown in the first quarter.
1936–1974	Standard used by the Greek royal family, adopted in 1936.^[1]	Like the Navy jack, with the Greek royal family arms in the centre but no crown.
1963-1964	Personal flag of Queen Frederica of Greece.
1914–1924 1935–1936	Standard used by the crown prince, adopted in 1914.^[2] The flag was made redundant after the abolition of the monarchy in 1924. Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1935, the 1914 decrees regarding Greek flags and those of the royal family were reinstated by decree of 7 November 1935.^[3] This flag was replaced in 1936 with a new design.	Like the Navy jack, but in a light blue field. In the first and third quarter is a royal crown.
1914–1924 1935–1936	Standard of the queen of Greece (in this case, showing the arms of Sophia of Prussia), adopted in 1914.^[2] The flag was made redundant after the abolition of the monarchy in 1924. Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1935, the 1914 decrees regarding Greek flags and those of the royal family were reinstated by decree of 7 November 1935.^[3]
1914–1924 1935–1936	Standard used by the other members of the royal family, adopted in 1914.^[2] The flag was made redundant after the abolition of the monarchy in 1924. Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1935, the 1914 decrees regarding Greek flags and those of the royal family were reinstated by decree of 7 November 1935.^[3]
1914–1917, 1920–1922	Royal standard of the king, adopted in 1914.^[2] The crossed marshal's batons refer to King Constantine I, who was raised to the rank in 1913. The flag was in use during Constantine I's two reigns, 1913–1917 and 1920–1922.	Like the Navy jack, but in a light blue field with the Arms of King Constantine I at the center. Behind the arms are two crossed Field Marshal's batons.
1913–1914	Personal flag of Queen Olga of Greece as Queen Mother, as specified in the Royal Decree of 3 June 1914
1863–1913	Standard used by King George I of Greece.	The flag consists of the plain cross version of the national flag, with a royal coat of arms of Greece superimposed in the center of the cross.
1863–1913	Royal standard reported during the early years of King George I's reign.^[4]^[5]	Swallow-tailed Greek flag and the coat of arms of House of Glücksburg.
1832–1862	Royal standard during reign of King Otto.	The flag consists of a square plain cross version of the flag with the monogram of King Otto of Greece in the middle.
1858–1862	Royal standard for use on ships during the late reign of King Otto, adopted in 1858.^[6]	The flag consists of the plain cross version of the national flag in 3:2 proportions,^[6] with the Bavarian arms of the Wittelsbach dynasty superimposed in the center of the cross, topped by a crown. The blue color is of a lighter shade than usual today.
1833–1858	Royal standard for use on ships during most of the reign of King Otto, adopted in 1833.^[7]	The flag consists of the plain cross version of the national flag in 10:7 proportions,^[7] with the Bavarian arms of the Wittelsbach dynasty superimposed in the center of the cross, topped by a crown. The blue color is of a lighter shade than usual today.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1950–Present	Flag of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff.
	1950–Present	Rank flag of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff - Army variant.
	1950–Present	Rank flag of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff - Navy variant.
	1950–Present	Rank flag of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff - Air force variant.

Date	Use	Description
	Army War Flag (regimental colour) (Πολεμική Σημαία Στρατού Ξηράς)	A square flag with a white cross on blue field with an image of Saint George slaying the dragon.
1904–present	Flag of the Hellenic Army General Staff.	The seal of the Hellenic Army on three stripes red, green and red with white borders in-between.
?-Present	Hellenic Army General flag.
?-Present	Hellenic Army Major General flag.
?-Present	Hellenic Army Lieutenant General flag.
?-Present	Hellenic Army Brigadier General flag.

List of Greek flags

National flag

Presidential standard

Royal standards

Military flags

Hellenic Armed Forces

Hellenic Army

Hellenic Navy

Hellenic Air Force

Hellenic Coast Guard

Regional and municipal flags

Historical flags

Other historical flags

Current and historical variants used outside of Greece

Political flags

Religious flags

Ethnic group flags (used unofficially)

Yacht clubs of Greece

See also

References

External links

Wikiwand - on

Flag	Date	Use	Description
Regional Flags
	1980–Present^[8]	Flag of the region of Macedonia.	Blue field with the golden Vergina Sun in the centre. The flag is unofficial but widely recognized in Greece.^[9]
Municipal Flags
		Municipal flag of Athens.	The flag is blue with an inner gold and outer red border, like the flag of the region of Attica. A white Greek cross lies in the middle, charged with a disc with a white border featuring gold olive branches. The blue disc in the center features the head of the goddess Athena.
		Municipal flag of Thessaloniki.	Dark blue with a stylized depiction of the city's main landmark, the White Tower, and an ancient Macedonian coin depicting Alexander the Great.
		Municipal flag of Patras.	The seal of the city of Patras on a dark blue background with an outer gold border.
	1896–Present	Municipal flag of Kallithea
		Municipal flag of Rhodes (city).	The seal of the city of Rhodes, depicting the head of Helios, on a blue gray background.
		Flag of Corfu island.	The flag of Corfu had a dark red/maroon/purple large outer border, a dark gold thin inner border and a very dark blue field with the seal in the centre in dark gold. The seal shows an ancient Greek Corfiot sailing ship. ΔΗΜΟΣ (Municipality) is written above the seal, ΚΕΡΚΥΡΑΣ (of Corfu), below the seal. The flag, on which the image shown above is based, had a ratio of 11:19.
		Flag of Zakynthos island.	Dark green with an orange depiction of Zakynthos with the island's motto "Freedom needs virtue and courage" (ΘΕΛΕΙ ΑΡΕΤΗ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΛΜΗ Η ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ, from Andreas Kalvos' The Lyre).^{[citation needed]}
		Flag of Aegina island.
	1821–Present	The flag of Kastelorizo, used as an ensign for ships from Kastelorizo during the Greek War of Independence, now a municipal flag.
	1821–Present	The flag of Hydra island, used as an ensign for ships from Hydra during the Greek War of Independence, now a municipal flag.
	1821–Present	The flag of Psara, used as an ensign for ships from Psara during the Greek War of Independence, now a municipal flag.	White cloth bordered with red with a large red cross and the inscriptions of the motto Eleftheria i Thanatos (Liberty or Death) in capital red letters. The cross is standing on an upside down crescent, symbolizing the Ottoman Empire, flanked on one side by a lance, on the other by an anchor, around which is coiled a serpent eating a bird.
	1821–Present	The flag of Spetses, used as an ensign for ships from Spetses during the Greek War of Independence, now a municipal flag.
	1821–Present	Flag of Agistri island

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1863–1924 1935–1970	State and War flag of the Kingdom of Greece.	The flag consists of a white cross on a field of blue with a golden royal crown superimposed in the center of the cross.
	1822–1970 1975–1978	In January 1822, the First National Assembly at Epidaurus adopted this design to replace the multitude of local revolutionary flags then in use. Since 1828, this flag was flown inside the country, while the current flag was flown on naval vessels and abroad.	White cross on a blue field. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1935–1973), a golden crown was often added in the centre of official flags (see examples below).
	1955-1959	Flag of EOKA, the Cypriot Greek nationalist guerilla organisation from the 1950s.	White cross on a blue field. The inscription reads: "Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος, Ζήτω η Ελλάς" (Freedom or Death, Long live Greece).
	1945–Present	Known as the Flag of Athenian Liberty, it was first hoisted on the Acropolis of Athens on the liberation of the city from Nazi occupation on 12 October 1945, a ceremony which is repeated every year on the anniversary of liberation.^[10]	The old national flag, with a depiction of the seal of the Athenian association in the centre.
	1919-1923	Flag of the proposed state of the Republic of Pontus.	The naval version of the Greek flag with a black eagle superimposed in the centre of the cross in the canton.
	1914	Flag of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus. It is used until today by many Northern Epirotes.	Resembles the land flag but with a black two-headed eagle in the middle. Beneath it are the Greek letters "Α" and "Η" that stand for "Αυτόνομη Ήπειρος" (Autonomous Epirus) and the year 1914, the year of its foundation.
	1912	Flag of the Free State of Ikaria.
	1834–1912	Flag of the autonomous Principality of Samos, tributary to the Ottoman Empire.	The flag consists of the plain cross version of the Greek national flag, with the upper half field in the red of the Ottoman flag.
	1834–1912	Princely flag of the autonomous Principality of Samos, tributary to the Ottoman Empire.	The flag consists of a white triangle on blue background, bearing a red Greek cross in the centre.
	1898–1908	Flag of the autonomous Cretan State.	The flag consists of the plain cross version of the Greek national flag, with the canton in red with a white five-pointed star, symbolizing Ottoman suzerainty. It was not popular during its period of official use, as Cretans wanted union with Greece, and was de facto abolished following the island's unilateral proclamation of union with Greece in September 1908.
	1897-1898	Cretan revolutionary flag of the 1897 revolt.
	1878-1885	Flag of Eastern Rumelia in Northern Thrace.	Three horizontal stripes red, white and blue.
	1878	Flag of the 1878 Cretan Insurrection.	The design of the flag above is a series of 5 stripes, the blue ones only stretching to 4/5 of the flag. The banner contains the words "ΗΤΑΝ ΗΕΠΙΤΑΝ" (expression of the Spartan women, when they would send off their sons into war implying: [I will wait for you] either with this [the shield, victorious], or on this [wounded or dead]) on the second white stripe, followed by a likely date of the rebellion, August 16, on the third white stripe. On the first two stripes, on the extreme right corner, a Greek cross is displayed.
	1878	Flag of West Macedonia during the 1878 revolt.
	1866	Flag used in the Arkadi Monastery by Christian Cretans supporting union with Greece, during the Great Cretan Revolt of 1866–1869.	The flag consists of the plain cross version of the Greek national flag, featuring the initials of the motto Κρήτη, Ένωσις, Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος ("Crete, Enosis, Freedom or Death"), and the cross with the inscription ΙΣ ΧΣ ΝΙΚΑ ("Jesus Christ Conquers").
	1817–1864	Flag of the United States of the Ionian Islands, a British protectorate from 1815 until its unity with Greece in 1864.	The flag is a variation of the British colonial Blue Ensign, with red bordering. It is defaced with the islands' emblem, a variant of the Venetian "Lion of St. Mark" holding seven bundled arrows, representing the unity of the seven Ionian Islands, with the Bible superimposed on them.
	1800–1807	Flag of the Septinsular Republic, the first modern Greek self-governing state, comprising the Ionian Islands, under joint Russian and Ottoman suzerainty.	The flag depicts the "Lion of St. Mark", the symbol of the Republic of Venice, under whose rule the Ionian Islands were until 1797. The lion holds seven bundled arrows, representing the unity of the seven islands, with the Bible superimposed on them.
	early 1800–present	Flag of Diapontian Islands, Greek island group in the Ionian Sea, located northwest of Corfu. The main and the only inhabited islands of the archipelago are Othoni, Ereikoussa and Mathraki.
	1807	Flag of captain Ioannis Stathas, designed in the island of Skiathos. It resembles the old flag and the Jack of the Hellenic Navy.^[11]	White cross on an azure field.
	1807	Flag of Central Macedonia designed by chieftain Nikolaos Tsamis against the Ottoman Empire.	An azure Greek cross on a white field. The flag also bore the inscription: "Σημαία Ελληνική, Νικόλαος Τσάμης" (Greek Flag, Nikolaos Tsamis).
	c.a 1800	Flag of the Kallergis family used before the revolution.	The flag shares a lot of similarities with the current flag and bears the phrase "EN TOYTΩ NIKA" (In hoc signo vinces, eng: In this sign thou shalt conquer). Heraldic ensembles containing the Kallergis family coat of arms (bendy argent and azure) can be found all over the island of Crete, in churches and other monuments.
	c.a 1793	Flag proposed by Rigas Feraios for his envisioned pan-Balkan Federation.	Three red, white and black horizontal stripes. Red stands for the imperial purple, white for the righteousness of the fight against tyranny, and black for the death in the struggle for liberty. It also features three crosses for the Christian nations of the Balkans, and the club of Hercules in the middle.
	1774-?	This flag, the so-called "Graeco-Ottoman" ensign (Γραικοθωμανική παντιέρα), was allowed for use by Greek merchant ships during the latter stages of Ottoman rule.	The flag consists of three horizontal stripes in the colours red (for the Ottoman Empire), blue (for the Greeks) and red.
	1769–1821	This design appeared in the 1769 uprising, based on older patterns. Used among others by the Kolokotronis family, this flag, with variations, was the most widely used throughout Greece during the initial stages of the 1821 revolution.	A blue or cyan cross over a white field.
Greek War of Independence
	1814-1821	The flag of the Filiki Eteria.
	1820-1823	Flag raised by the leader of the Souliotes, Markos Botsaris, in Souli, October 1820, after their exile in the Ionian islands.	The flag depicts St. George and reads in Greek: "Freedom", "Fatherland", "Religion".
	1821–1825	The flag of the Areopagus of Eastern Continental Greece, a regional administration during the Greek Revolution.	The flag consists of three vertical stripes in the colours green, white and black. The cross stands for Orthodox Christianity, the flaming heart for the will to fight for independence, and the anchor for the steadfastness of purpose.
	1821-1829	Flag of Greek guerrillas during the Greek War of Independence.	Horizontal tricolor of yellow, blue, and white with a wreath and cross, the motto "Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος" (Freedom or Death) is written on the bottom.
	1821	Flag of the Sacred Band.	Three red, white and black horizontal stripes with a golden phoenix rising in the middle and reads in Greek: "Εκ της κόνεώς μου αναγεννώμαι" (From my ashes I am reborn.)
	1821	Used by Athanasios Diakos and his irregulars during the Greek War of Independence.	The figure of St. George slaying the dragon, with the motto "Ελευθερία ή θάνατος" (Freedom or Death).
	1821	Flag used by Andreas Miaoulis.
	1821	The first Greek revolutionary flag, raised at the beginning of the Greek War of Independence by Andreas Londos.	A black Latin cross in the center of a red field.
	1821	Used by Alexander Ypsilantis.
	1821	Used by Anthimos Gazis and his irregulars from Thessaly during the Greek War of Independence.
	1821	Another flag used also in Thessaly during the War of Independence, created also by Anthimos Gazis.
	1821	Flag of the Military-Political System of Samos during the Greek War of Independence.
	1821	Flag of the revolutionaries from Chalkidiki during the Greek War of Independence.
	1821	Flag of the revolutionaries from Thrace and Samothrace during the Greek War of Independence.	A black Greek cross on blue background
	1821	The flag of the fighters of the autonomous Mani Peninsula.	A blue Greek cross on white background, with the words "Victory or Death" and the ancient Spartan motto "With it or upon it" in gold.

Flag	Date	Party
Current
	2018–present	New Democracy
	2020–present	SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left – Progressive Alliance)
	1974–present	Communist Party of Greece
	1940s	Communist Party of Greece
	1974–present	PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement)
	1973–present	Flag of the Kingdom of Greece. Today used by Greek monarchists.
Former
	1993–2020	Golden Dawn
	1975–2002	Revolutionary Organization 17 November
	1946–1949	Democratic Army of Greece
	1943–1950	Organization X
	1942–1945	ELAS
	1936-1941	National Youth Organisation (EON)
	1932–1943	Greek National Socialist Party
	1927–1944	National Union of Greece
	1922-1936	Freethinkers' Party

Date	Use	Description
?-Present	Flag of the Greek Aromanians.
?-Present	Flag of the Cappadocian Greeks.	Misrepresentation and misclassification of flags belonging to various subsets of Greek Nationals from specific regions. All individuals of Cappadocian, Pontic and/or Sarakatsani identity who honor those three flags have the exact same ethnic origin, as well as national identity, as Macedonians, Thracians, Epirotes, Thessalians, Cretans, Dodecanesians, Cycladites, Heptanesians, Athenians, Peloponnesians, etc. who honor one of the Regional Greek Flags depicted in the respective section above. They are all Greek people by right of birth, more than simply citizens of the Greek State. They are not ethnically distinct from the rest of the Greeks. The same may not be readily said about the Aromanians, who constitute a separate ethnic group, although they too are Greek Citizens. Furthermore, those flags are as official as the flag of Greek Macedonia. Had it not been for the loss of Greek Territory in Asia Minor, they would represent the respective Regions of the Greek State, had it included Cappadocia and Pontus. Drawing details often vary by version.
?-Present	Flag of the Pontic Greeks.
?-Present	Flag of the Sarakatsani.