This is a list of flags used in the modern state of Greece or historically used by Greeks.
National flag
FlagDateUseDescription 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 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.
Presidential standard
FlagDateUseDescription 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. Square blue flag bearing the coat of arms of Greece at its center: Greek cross argent, escutcheon azure, laurel wreath or, field azure. (A white Greek cross on a blue shield, surrounded by a golden laurel wreath.) 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. A white cross on a blue field.
Royal standards FlagDateUseDescription 1936–1974 Royal standard of the king, adopted in 1936.per Royal Decree of 20 February 1936, Gazette 109, dated 26.02.1936, pages 549–550 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. 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. Like the Navy jack, with the Greek royal family arms in the centre but no additional crowns. 1963–1964 Personal flag of Queen Frederica of Greece. 1914–1924 Standard used by the crown prince, adopted in 1914. 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. 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. 1935–1936 1914–1924 Standard of the queen of Greece (in this case, showing the arms of Sophia of Prussia), adopted in 1914. 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. 1935–1936 1914–1924 Standard used by the other members of the royal family, adopted in 1914. 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. 1935–1936 1914–1917 Royal standard of the king, adopted in 1914. 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. 1920–1922 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. Royal standard reported during the early years of King George I's reign.FLAGS AND SIGNALS OF ALL NATIONS by Hounsell Brothers c.1870 http://www.life.com/image/50700092 Greek National Historical Museum 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. The flag consists of the plain cross version of the national flag in 3:2 proportions, 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. The flag consists of the plain cross version of the national flag in 10:7 proportions, 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.
Military flags
Hellenic Armed Forces FlagDateUseDescription 1950–present Flag of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff. Rank flag of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff – Army variant. Rank flag of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff – Navy variant. Rank flag of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff – Air force variant.
Hellenic Army FlagDateUseDescription Army war flag (regimental colour)() 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. A red flag with four white six-pointed stars in the centre. ?–present Hellenic Army lieutenant general flag. A red flag with three white six-pointed stars in the centre. ?–present Hellenic Army major general flag. A red flag with two white six-pointed stars in the centre. ?–present Hellenic Army brigadier general flag. A red flag with one white six-pointed star in the centre.
Hellenic Navy FlagDateUseDescription 1822–present Jack of the Hellenic Navy. A square flag with a white cross on a blue field. A golden crown was added in the centre during the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1935–1973). Commissioning pennant (, i.e., "Warship Pennant") flown by all Hellenic Navy's ships and establishments in commission, unless displaced by a senior officer's rank flag. "Warship pennant, blue coloured, has shape of isosceles triangle elongated, bearing a white cross near the base of the triangle". The flag has typically base to length (height of triangle) 1 to 20. The cross has arms width 1/5 base length and each arm length 3/5 of base length. The pennant flown on the top of mainmast. ?–present Flag of the Hellenic Navy General Staff. The seal of the Hellenic Navy on three stripes white, red, and white with a blue outer border. ?–present Rank flag of the admiral of the Hellenic Navy. A square flag with a white cross on a blue field with a star in all four quarters. 1956–present Rank flag of the prime minister of Greece aboard Hellenic Navy vessels. Like the Hellenic Navy jack, with three white rising diagonal stripes in the first quarter. Rank flag of the Greek minister of national defence aboard Hellenic Navy vessels. Like the Hellenic Navy jack, with three white rising diagonal stripes in the first quarter and three descending stripes in the third. Rank flag for ministers of the Hellenic Republic. Like the Hellenic Navy jack, with three white rising diagonal stripes in the first and the third quarter.
Hellenic Air Force FlagDateUseDescription ?–present Air Force war flag (regimental colour) () A square flag with a white cross on a blue field with an image of Archangel Michael in the middle. ?–present Flag of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff. The seal of the Hellenic Air Force on three stripes blue, yellow and blue with red borders in-between. ?–present Air chief marshal flag. A light blue flag with four white six-pointed stars in the centre. ?–present Air marshal flag. A light blue flag with three white six-pointed stars in the centre. ?–present Air vice-marshal flag. A light blue flag with two white six-pointed stars in the centre. ?–present Brigadier of the Air Force flag. A light blue flag with one white six-pointed star in the centre.
Hellenic Coast Guard FlagDateUseDescription ?–present Service flag of the Hellenic Coast Guard. Seven horizontal stripes, white and blue, with the emblem of the Hellenic Coast Guard. ?–present House flag of Hellenic Coast Guard vessels. Fifteen vertical blue and white stripes with two blue anchors crossed and a white canton in the upper hoist corner with the national emblem of Greece in the centre.
Regional and municipal flags
FlagDateUseDescriptionRegional Flags 1980–present Flag of the historical region of Macedonia. Blue field with the golden Vergina Sun in the centre. The flag is unofficial but widely recognized in Greece.Municipal Flags Link to flag Municipal flag of Athens. The flag is blue with an inner gold and outer red border. 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 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). 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. The flag of Hydra island, used as an ensign for ships from Hydra during the Greek War of Independence, now a municipal flag. 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. The flag of Spetses, used as an ensign for ships from Spetses during the Greek War of Independence, now a municipal flag.
Historical flags