Last modified: 2006-05-27 by ivan sache
Keywords: infantry division | shoe (red) | bayonet |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
See also:
The website of the
Greek Armed Forces shows 66 flags, probably all the unit flags of
the Greek Army. By clicking on the link below each flag, you can
reach another page with a large image of the flag.
All flags have the same general design: Three horizontal coloured
stripes, with a fimbriation between them, an emblem in the middle and
a golden fringe.
Ivan Sache, 18 February 2002
I translated the first part of the texts from the website
mentioned above, and added some minor comments.
The mottos in the emblems are mostly from ancient times, therefore in
various forms of ancient Greek (e.g. from Homer's Ilias).
Transliteration of Greek is according to the
rules of transliterating
ancient Greek into English, i.e., ζ is
transliterated "z", η "ê", θ "th",
χ "x", υ "u" or "y", φ "ph", χ
"ch", Ψ "ps", Ω "ô", all others are
straightforward. The modern pronunciation of Greek, however, is
different: especially a whole set of vowels and diphthongs (y,
ê, ei, oi) are pronounced as "i" (like
"invincible"). If the Greek terms would have been only in Modern
Greek, I would have preferred a more phonetic transliteration; for
this mixture of ancient and modern Greek I prefer the more
traditional transliteration. I left off all the diacriticals
(accents, spiritus, iota adscriptum).
Marcus Schmöger, 25 February 2002
Flag of the 1st Infantry Division - Image by Marcus Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: red-dark blue-red with white fimbriation, green shield.
Description: An Evzonian pointed shoe and a bayonet on the
rifle.
This representation, in combination with the motto aera that
is the battle cry of Greek soldiers, symbolizes the assault of the
Greek soldier. The traditional and symbolic value was bigger than the
practical, that means that the adamant spirit of the Greeks under the
Turkish yoke wanted the pointed shoe to be powerful and suitable for
kicking the conqueror. Therefore the point of the shoe ends in a
sharp ledge, which is maliciously hidden in a beautiful black tuft,
that lies charmingly over this part.
Motto: aera (wind).
Battle cry of the Greek soldiers (Evzonians), that was sounded by the
soldiers of the Infantry at the assault, just after the command
"Forward by the bayonet".
Marcus Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002
Flag of the Second Infantry Division - Image by Marcus Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: green-white-green with red fimbriation, light blue shield.
Marcus Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002
Flag of the Fifth Infantry Division - Image by Marcus Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: violet-yellow-violet with dark blue fimbriation, red shield.
Marcus Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002
Flag of the Sixth Infantry Division - Image by Marcus Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: yellow-red-yellow with light blue fimbriation, black shield.
Marcus Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002