EMBORIOS  for the culture of kasos

The striped flag has been in use since 1822, and officially approved since 1833. The nine stripes are said to stand for the nine syllables of the Greek motto "Eleutheria e Thanatos" meaning "Freedom or Death" which was the main motto of the Great War of Independence. It is used both on land and at sea as the civil, State and war ensign. Its official description is:

"Nine horizontal stripes, alternatively blue and white, and a white cross on a blue square field in canton".

There is no officially prescribed shade of blue according to the 1978 law. The 1969 law that abolished the "white cross on blue" flag (see below) did not specify a particular shade either, but it did provide that all flags should conform with the "prototype" flags lodged with two government departments. The shade of blue on the prototype flags was, probably, very dark hence the very dark shade of flags made between 1970-1975. A lighter shade of blue is used nowadays (by convention, presumably). The approximate color is Blue: Pantone 294 c / CMYK (%) C 100 - M 60 - Y 0 - K 5.

The correct proportion is 2:3 (height to width). On 18 August 1970 this was changed to 7:12 but on 22 December 1978, it reverted back to 2:3.

There is also an unofficial alternative flag. A simple "white cross on blue" flag that dates back to 1822. This has only ever been used on land. The striped flag has been used both on land and at sea. From June 1975 until December 1978, the "white cross on blue" flag was the only official national flag. The situation is now reversed with the striped flag being the only official national flag and the "white cross on blue" being an unofficial flag. There is also a Jack which is a square version of the "white cross on blue" flag.

The First National Flag (1822-1832) - As noted above, the striped flag has been in use since 1822, and officially approved since 1833. The nine stripes are said to stand for the nine syllables of the Greek motto "Eleutheria e Thanatos" meaning "Freedom or Death" which was the main motto of the Great War of Independence.

The Civil Ensign (1822-1828) - The Civil Ensign flag of the Merchant Navy was abolished in 1828, when it was decided that merchant ships would henceforth use the same, striped, flag as the Navy.

Kingdom of Greece (1832-1924) - Between 1832 and 1924, under the Monarchy created after the successful conclusion of the Great War of Independence, Greece had two national flags. The "white cross on blue" flag was used inside the country and the striped flag was used outside and at sea.

President's Standard (1924 - 1935) - Under the Republic of 1924-1935, the President's standard was a square version of the "white cross on blue" flag. This was specified in a Presidential Decree of 1930 (the President was "provisional" until December 1929).

Kingdom of Greece (1935-1973) - In 1935, back under the Monarchy, Greece reverted to two national flags again. The "white cross on blue" flag was used inside the country and the striped flag was used outside and at sea. The "white cross on blue" flag was abolished in 1970 and the striped flag became Greece's national flag and ensign. However, for a brief period after 1973 (from June 1975 until December 1978) the "white cross on blue" flag was used as the only national flag.

Until 1970, the Greek State and War flag was the "white cross on blue" flag with a yellow crown in the center. The striped flag with a yellow crown was the War Ensign and the flag of the Minister of the Navy was a square version of the War Ensign, similar to the Jack, with the yellow crown.