National emblem of Greece
Encyclopedia
The national emblem of Greece
, also known as the coat of arms of Greece, consists of a blue escutcheon with a white cross totally surrounded by two laurel
branches. The emblem is painted or woven, mainly on the hats, uniforms and buttons of the military, the security forces, etc.
of 1 January 1822 and was established by decree on 15 March of the same year. It was the shape of a blue and white circular cockade
.
Since it was first established the emblem has undergone many changes in shape and in design, mainly due to changes of regime
. The original Greek national emblem depicted the goddess Athena
and the owl. At the time of Capodistrias, the first Prime Minister
of modern Greece, the phoenix
, the symbol of rebirth, was added. During the reign of the Bavaria
n King Otto
, the royal coat of arms, with two crowned lions holding the shield with the royal crown, became the national emblem of the country. With the arrival of King George I
, the coat of arms was replaced by the Danish
-inspired version. After Greece became a republic in 1924 the national emblem consisted of a simple white cross on a blue escutcheon. The royal arms returned with the restoration of the monarchy in 1935 and were used until 1973, when the then-ruling military junta abolished the monarchy
. The current design, by the artist Kostas Grammatopoulos, was adopted on 7 June 1975, by Law 48 (ΦΕΚ Α΄ 108/7.6.1975).
leaves. The current official use of the National Emblem by the government bodies
of Greece
is a monochrome rendering of the design in blue or black. Various versions with coloured laurel leaves exist, but they do not appear on any official documents or sources of the Hellenic Republic.
An additional design with golden laurel leaves appears on the caps of the military officers of the Hellenic Armed Forces as well as on the flag of the President of the Republic
.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, also known as the coat of arms of Greece, consists of a blue escutcheon with a white cross totally surrounded by two laurel
Bay Laurel
The bay laurel , also known as sweet bay, bay tree, true laurel, Grecian laurel, laurel tree, or simply laurel, is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glossy leaves, native to the Mediterranean region. It is the source of the bay leaf used in cooking...
branches. The emblem is painted or woven, mainly on the hats, uniforms and buttons of the military, the security forces, etc.
History
The first Greek national emblem was provided for by the Constitution of EpidaurosCoat of arms of the Kingdom of Greece
The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Greece was the official symbol of the Greek state during the period of the monarchy .-Description of the coat of arms of the Wittelsbach dynasty:...
of 1 January 1822 and was established by decree on 15 March of the same year. It was the shape of a blue and white circular cockade
Cockade
A cockade is a knot of ribbons, or other circular- or oval-shaped symbol of distinctive colors which is usually worn on a hat.-Eighteenth century:...
.
Since it was first established the emblem has undergone many changes in shape and in design, mainly due to changes of regime
Regime
The word regime refers to a set of conditions, most often of a political nature.-Politics:...
. The original Greek national emblem depicted the goddess Athena
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
and the owl. At the time of Capodistrias, the first Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of modern Greece, the phoenix
Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
, the symbol of rebirth, was added. During the reign of the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n King Otto
Otto of Greece
Otto, Prince of Bavaria, then Othon, King of Greece was made the first modern King of Greece in 1832 under the Convention of London, whereby Greece became a new independent kingdom under the protection of the Great Powers .The second son of the philhellene King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Otto ascended...
, the royal coat of arms, with two crowned lions holding the shield with the royal crown, became the national emblem of the country. With the arrival of King George I
George I of Greece
George I was King of Greece from 1863 to 1913. Originally a Danish prince, George was only 17 years old when he was elected king by the Greek National Assembly, which had deposed the former king Otto. His nomination was both suggested and supported by the Great Powers...
, the coat of arms was replaced by the Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
-inspired version. After Greece became a republic in 1924 the national emblem consisted of a simple white cross on a blue escutcheon. The royal arms returned with the restoration of the monarchy in 1935 and were used until 1973, when the then-ruling military junta abolished the monarchy
Metapolitefsi
The Metapolitefsi was a period in Greek history after the fall of the Greek military junta of 1967–1974 that includes the transitional period from the fall of the dictatorship to the Greek legislative elections of 1974 and the democratic period immediately after these elections.The long...
. The current design, by the artist Kostas Grammatopoulos, was adopted on 7 June 1975, by Law 48 (ΦΕΚ Α΄ 108/7.6.1975).
Historical evolution
.png){kind=spacer} The seal of the Greek Provisional Government (1822–1828). It represents the goddess Athena Athena In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is... and her symbol, the owl Owl Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish... . The legend reads "Provisional Administration of Greece". |
 The seal of Greece First Hellenic Republic The First Hellenic Republic is a name used to refer to the provisional Greek state during the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire... under Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias Ioannis Kapodistrias Count Ioannis Antonios Kapodistrias |Academy of Athens]] Critical Observations about the 6th-Grade History Textbook"): "3.2.7. Σελ. 40: Δεν αναφέρεται ότι ο Καποδίστριας ήταν Κερκυραίος ευγενής." "...δύο ιστορικούς της Aκαδημίας κ.κ... (1828–1832) was the phoenix Phoenix (mythology) The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians.... . The legend reads "Hellenic State", accompanied with the date "1821" (the year the Greek War of Independence Greek War of Independence The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between... began) in Greek numerals Greek numerals Greek numerals are a system of representing numbers using letters of the Greek alphabet. They are also known by the names Ionian numerals, Milesian numerals , Alexandrian numerals, or alphabetic numerals... . |
.svg.png) The Royal & State Coat of Arms Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Greece The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Greece was the official symbol of the Greek state during the period of the monarchy .-Description of the coat of arms of the Wittelsbach dynasty:... during the reign of King Otto Otto of Greece Otto, Prince of Bavaria, then Othon, King of Greece was made the first modern King of Greece in 1832 under the Convention of London, whereby Greece became a new independent kingdom under the protection of the Great Powers .The second son of the philhellene King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Otto ascended... (1833–1862). It was inspired by the royal Bavarian Coat of Arms. |
The Royal Coat of Arms Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Greece The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Greece was the official symbol of the Greek state during the period of the monarchy .-Description of the coat of arms of the Wittelsbach dynasty:... during the first period of the Glücksburg dynasty (1863–1924). It is a derivative of the royal Danish Coat of Arms. |
Second version of the Royal Coat of Arms, created after the restoration of George II George II of Greece George II reigned as King of Greece from 1922 to 1924 and from 1935 to 1947.-Early life, first period of kingship and exile:George was born at the royal villa at Tatoi, near Athens, the eldest son of King Constantine I of Greece and his wife, Princess Sophia of Prussia... . Used from 1936–1973. |
The State Coat of Arms Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Greece The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Greece was the official symbol of the Greek state during the period of the monarchy .-Description of the coat of arms of the Wittelsbach dynasty:... during the Glücksburg dynasty (1863–1924 and 1935–1973). |
The coat of arms of the Second Hellenic Republic Second Hellenic Republic The Second Hellenic Republic is the term used to describe the political regime of Greece from 1924 to 1935. It followed from the period of the constitutional monarchy under the monarchs of the House of Glücksburg, and lasted until its overthrow in a military coup d'état which restored the monarchy... from 1924 to 1935. |
 The phoenix Phoenix (mythology) The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians.... with the soldier in front was extensively used as a symbol by the Greek military junta of 1967–1974, and became (minus the soldier) the emblem of the junta-proclaimed Republic Metapolitefsi The Metapolitefsi was a period in Greek history after the fall of the Greek military junta of 1967–1974 that includes the transitional period from the fall of the dictatorship to the Greek legislative elections of 1974 and the democratic period immediately after these elections.The long... in 1973–1974. |
Colour
According to Law 48, the colours of the national emblem of the Hellenic Republic are "cyan and argent" for the escutcheon but no provision is made for the bay laurelBay Laurel
The bay laurel , also known as sweet bay, bay tree, true laurel, Grecian laurel, laurel tree, or simply laurel, is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glossy leaves, native to the Mediterranean region. It is the source of the bay leaf used in cooking...
leaves. The current official use of the National Emblem by the government bodies
Politics of Greece
The Politics of Greece takes place in a large parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Greece is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Hellenic Parliament...
of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
is a monochrome rendering of the design in blue or black. Various versions with coloured laurel leaves exist, but they do not appear on any official documents or sources of the Hellenic Republic.
An additional design with golden laurel leaves appears on the caps of the military officers of the Hellenic Armed Forces as well as on the flag of the President of the Republic
President of Greece
The President of the Hellenic Republic , colloquially referred to in English as the President of Greece, is the head of state of Greece. The office of the President of the Republic was established after the Greek republic referendum, 1974 and formally by the Constitution of Greece in 1975. The...
.