Flag of Syria
Encyclopedia
The flag of Syria
was re-adopted in 1980. The flag was formerly the flag of the United Arab Republic
.
with the green and white colours reversed. The colours and design were taken from the Pan-Arab flag and inspired by the flag of the Arab Revolt
.
The French changed the flag of Syria under their mandate into a blue flag with a white crescent in the centre and a French flag in the canton. After a month the flag was changed into a horizontally striped green-white-green flag with a French tricolour in the canton. This flag was in use from 1925 until 1936 (along with flags of several cantons into which Syria was divided under French colonial rule). Then the flag was changed into a horizontally striped green-white-black tricolour
flag with three red five-pointed star
s in the centre of the white stripe. This followed the signing of the Franco-Syrian treaty which gave Syria partial independence. The first national flag of Syria after independence in 1946 was this green-white-black flag with three red stars.
In 1958, Syria and Egypt
merged to form the United Arab Republic
, the flag of which was derived from the Arab Liberation Flag of the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 (a tricolour of horizontal red, white, and black bands). The flag of the union was distinguished from the original Arab Liberation Flag by two green stars in the white band, symbolizing the two component parts of the union. As of 1980, this is once again the flag of Syria.
When Syria withdrew from the union in 1961, Egypt maintained both the name and flag of the United Arab Republic, whereas Syria reverted briefly to its old green-white-black flag. However, the Ba'athist coup in 1963 led to the re-introduction of the Arab Liberation Flag, this time with three green stars in the white band, symbolising the hoped for union of Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. Iraq also adopted this flag at the same time, and maintained it (with certain modifications) until 2008.
In 1971, Syria joined with Egypt, and Libya
to establish the Federation of Arab Republics
. As such, the Arab Liberation Flag was modified again, with the insertion of the golden Hawk of Qureish
replacing the three green stars. Additionally, the shade of the red band was made slightly lighter.
In 1980, the flag of the United Arab Republic flag was re-adopted.
Thus Syria has had six national flags (of four distinct designs) since independence in 1946.
The 1932 green-white-black tricolour flag has been used by some of the protesters during the 2011 Syrian uprising
. It is used by the Syrian National Council
and Free Syrian Army
.
State from 1923 to 1938, did not have its own flag until it became independent as the State of Hatay.
in which green is less prominent. It shares this design with the related flags of Egypt
, Iraq
, Sudan
, Yemen
, and the 1969-1972 flag of Libya
. The two stars represent Egypt and Syria, the two participating countries in the United Arab Republic.
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
was re-adopted in 1980. The flag was formerly the flag of the United Arab Republic
United Arab Republic
The United Arab Republic , often abbreviated as the U.A.R., was a sovereign union between Egypt and Syria. The union began in 1958 and existed until 1961, when Syria seceded from the union. Egypt continued to be known officially as the "United Arab Republic" until 1971. The President was Gamal...
.
History
The first modern flag of Syria was adopted in 1920, and was similar to the current flag of JordanFlag of Jordan
The flag of Jordan, officially adopted on 16 April 1928, is based on the flag of the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The flag consists of horizontal black, white, and green bands that are connected by a red chevron. The colors stand are the Pan-Arab Colors, representing...
with the green and white colours reversed. The colours and design were taken from the Pan-Arab flag and inspired by the flag of the Arab Revolt
Flag of the Arab Revolt
The Flag of the Arab Revolt was a flag used by Arab nationalists during the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire in World War I.-History:The flag was designed by the British diplomat Sir Mark Sykes, in an effort to create a feeling of "Arab-ness" in order to fuel the revolt...
.
The French changed the flag of Syria under their mandate into a blue flag with a white crescent in the centre and a French flag in the canton. After a month the flag was changed into a horizontally striped green-white-green flag with a French tricolour in the canton. This flag was in use from 1925 until 1936 (along with flags of several cantons into which Syria was divided under French colonial rule). Then the flag was changed into a horizontally striped green-white-black tricolour
Tricolour
A tricolour is a flag or banner more-or-less equally divided into three bands of differing colours...
flag with three red five-pointed star
Five-pointed star
A five-pointed star is a very common ideogram throughout the world. If the colinear edges are joined together a pentagram is produced, which is the simplest of the unicursal star polygons, and a symbol of mystical and magical significance....
s in the centre of the white stripe. This followed the signing of the Franco-Syrian treaty which gave Syria partial independence. The first national flag of Syria after independence in 1946 was this green-white-black flag with three red stars.
In 1958, Syria and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
merged to form the United Arab Republic
United Arab Republic
The United Arab Republic , often abbreviated as the U.A.R., was a sovereign union between Egypt and Syria. The union began in 1958 and existed until 1961, when Syria seceded from the union. Egypt continued to be known officially as the "United Arab Republic" until 1971. The President was Gamal...
, the flag of which was derived from the Arab Liberation Flag of the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 (a tricolour of horizontal red, white, and black bands). The flag of the union was distinguished from the original Arab Liberation Flag by two green stars in the white band, symbolizing the two component parts of the union. As of 1980, this is once again the flag of Syria.
When Syria withdrew from the union in 1961, Egypt maintained both the name and flag of the United Arab Republic, whereas Syria reverted briefly to its old green-white-black flag. However, the Ba'athist coup in 1963 led to the re-introduction of the Arab Liberation Flag, this time with three green stars in the white band, symbolising the hoped for union of Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. Iraq also adopted this flag at the same time, and maintained it (with certain modifications) until 2008.
In 1971, Syria joined with Egypt, and Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
to establish the Federation of Arab Republics
Federation of Arab Republics
The Federation of Arab Republics was an abortive attempt by Libya's Muammar Gaddafi to merge Libya, Egypt, and Syria, creating an United Arab state...
. As such, the Arab Liberation Flag was modified again, with the insertion of the golden Hawk of Qureish
Coat of arms of Syria
The national symbol or coat of arms of Syria includes the Hawk of Qureish, which holds a shield of the national flag , and a scroll with the words "Syrian Arab Republic" ....
replacing the three green stars. Additionally, the shade of the red band was made slightly lighter.
In 1980, the flag of the United Arab Republic flag was re-adopted.
Thus Syria has had six national flags (of four distinct designs) since independence in 1946.
The 1932 green-white-black tricolour flag has been used by some of the protesters during the 2011 Syrian uprising
2011 Syrian uprising
The 2011 Syrian uprising is an ongoing internal conflict occurring in Syria. Protests started on 26 January 2011, and escalated into an uprising by 15 March 2011...
. It is used by the Syrian National Council
Syrian National Council
The Syrian National Council or SNC is a Syrian opposition coalition created during the 2011 Syrian uprising against the government of Bashar al-Assad.-Background:...
and Free Syrian Army
Free Syrian Army
The Free Syrian Army is the main opposition army group in Syria. It is composed of defected Syrian Armed Forces personnel, who have been active during the 2011 Syrian uprising...
.
Mandate of Syria
Each of the states in the French Mandate of Syria had its own flag. The Sanjak of Alexandretta, which was a part of Aleppo from 1920 to 1923 and then a part of the AlawiteAlawite
The Alawis, also known as Alawites, Nusayris and Ansaris are a prominent mystical and syncretic religious group centred in Syria who are a branch of Shia Islam.-Etymology:...
State from 1923 to 1938, did not have its own flag until it became independent as the State of Hatay.
Symbolism
The flag of Syria is derived from the Arab Liberation Flag, which uses a subset of the Pan-Arab colorsPan-Arab colors
The Pan-Arab colors are black, white, green, and red. They were first combined in the flag of the Arab Revolt in 1916. They are used currently in the flags of Jordan, Kuwait, Palestinian Authority, Sahrawi Republic, Sudan, Libya and the United Arab Emirates. A sub-set of the Pan-Arab colors are...
in which green is less prominent. It shares this design with the related flags of Egypt
Flag of Egypt
The flag of Egypt is a tricolour consisting of the three equal horizontal red, white, and black bands of the Arab Liberation flag dating back to the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. The flag bears Egypt's national emblem, the Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band...
, Iraq
Flag of Iraq
The flag of Iraq consists of the three equal horizontal red, white, and black bands of the Arab Liberation Flag. The flag has been in use since 1963, with several changes to the green symbols in the central white band, the most recent version bearing the Takbir rendered in green. Following the U.S...
, Sudan
Flag of Sudan
The flag of Sudan was adopted on May 20, 1970, and consists of a horizontal red-white-black tricolor, with a green triangle at the hoist. The flag is based on the Arab Liberation Flag shared by Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, that uses a subset of the Pan-Arab colors in which green is less...
, Yemen
Flag of Yemen
The flag of Yemen was adopted on May 22, 1990, the day that North Yemen and South Yemen were unified. The flag is essentially the Arab Liberation Flag of 1952, introduced after the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 in which Arab nationalism was a dominant theme...
, and the 1969-1972 flag of Libya
Flag of Libya
The Libyan Independence Flag or Flag of Libya was the original flag of the Kingdom of Libya introduced in 1951 following the creation of the Libyan state in the post World War II period...
. The two stars represent Egypt and Syria, the two participating countries in the United Arab Republic.