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Spetses (Greece)

Σπέτσες

Presentation of Spetses
Historical flag of Spetses
Laskarina Bouboulina's standard

See also:

Presentation of Spetses

Spetses is an island located off the eastern coast of Peloponnesus.

Ivan Sache, 2 February 2005

Historical flag of Spetses

Flag of Spetses - Image modified from [k7k97] by Eugene Ipavec, 24 November 2009

On 8 September 1822, the joint fleets from Hydra, Psara and Spetses defeated the Ottoman Navy near Spetses.

According to the book Hellenic flags [k7k97], the flag used in Spetses during the Greek War of Independence is white with a red and white border, a red cross over a big crescent. On the cross' left is a red anchor upside down, "fouled" with a green snake whose tongue is biten by a yellow owl; in the cross' right is a red spear. The whole is flanked by the motto ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ Η ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ (Freedom or Death) in red letters.

As explained in the Naval Museum of Hania (Crete), the cross stands for Christendom (Greece), the crescent for Islam (Turkey), the snake for wisdom, knowledge and reason, the anchor for stability, the spear for power and the bird for the help from God.
The combination of these elements probably represents the resurrection of the Greek nation: the cross overpowers the crescent moon. To bring about a successful fight however power (the spear) was required, as well as stability and perseverance (anchor), knowledge and wisdom (snake), and God's help through faith and religion (bird).

Bruce Tindall & Pascal Vagnat, 11 January 1999

Laskarina Bouboulina's standard

Bouboulina's standard - Image modified from [k7k97] by Eugene Ipavec, 24 November 2009

Quoting the Nostos website:

Bouboulina (1771-1825) came from a rich family from the island of Spetses. This Archontissa (Lady) of Spetse used her wealth to build a navy and became one of the most famous leading figures in the Greek War of Independence. After the success of the revolution in Peloponnese and Sterea Ellada [Central Greece], the uprising spread in the islands. Spetses was the first of the islands to join the revolution and this was mainly due to Bouboulina's leadership and courage. The example of Spetses was followed by many other islands and therefore the freeing of the Island of Spetses was one of the initial major steps towards victory for the Greeks. Thereafter Boumboulina, with her fleet took part in many naval battles and dominated the Aegean creating problems to the, by far superior, Turkish fleet.

Ivan Sache, 2 February 2005

According to the book Hellenic flags [k7k97], Bouboulina used in 1821 a square blue flag with a red border, charged with a golden eagle holding in its claws a white anchor (left) and a phoenix (right). The eagle is surmonted by the white writing "ΜΠΟΥΜΠΟΥΛΙΝΑ ΛΑΣΚΑΡΙΝΑ" ("Bouboulina Laskarina") and surmonts the white writing "13 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ 1821" ("13 March 1821").

Nozomi Karyasu & Ivan Sache, 29 November 2009