Last modified: 2016-02-13 by ivan sache
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Each unit above the brigade level has its own emblem/sleeve
badge. This is in the form of a shield although the top part (the chief to
use the heraldic term) is taken up by a motto, which is, of course,
not heraldically correct. The motto should be on a scroll.
There are such shields for the Ministry of Defence, Joint Chiefs
of Staff (ΓΕΕΘΑ), Army
General Staff (ΓΕΣ) etc.. Those emblems can also be taken as emblems of the whole armed forces or emblem of the army.
These emblems can also be displayed in the form of a flag. Such
flags are horizontally striped. There are three stripes and I think
the middle one is almost invariably fimbriated. I don't think there
are any particular rules about or reasons behind the choice of
colours - they seem decorative to me. The flags incorporate the
emblems of ΓΕΣ, ΓΕΝ (Navy general staff), ΓΕΑ (Air Force general
staff) and ΓΕΕΘΑ.
Those flags are used as wall decorations or in the form of desk
flags. I have never seen them flown in HQs etc. (of course, the war
flag is not flown either - instead HQs and barracks fly the Greek
national flag and there are flag raising and flag lowering
ceremonies). I suppose the Ministry of Defence or the General Staff
HQs may fly those flags but I've never been there.
Where I was in the Army, we never even saw such a flag, although
we knew our division's "emblem", wore it on the left sleeve of our
dress uniforms and were supposed to know its description and meaning
- especially the motto which was usually some historical quote,
especially from Classical Greek texts.
Yannis Natsinas, 2 August 1999
Vexillinfo [vxf] #5/82
reports that:
- The Armed Forces flag is horizontally divided dark blue-red-light blue with the Armed Forces emblem in the center and the motto "To win forever".
- The Army flag is horizontally divided red-green-red with the Army emblem in the center and the motto "The freedom is for the valiants".
- The Army staff flag is horizontally divided red-green-red.
- The Navy flag is white bordered blue with the Navy emblem in
the center and the motto "The greatness is for the sea
dominators".
- The Air Force flag is horizontally divided light blue-yellow
fimbriated red-light blue with the Air Force emblem in the center
and the motto "Lord of skies forever".
Jaume Ollé, 1 August 1999
The website of the Greek Armed Forces shows the flags of 66 unit of the Greek Army.
Ivan Sache, 18 February 2002
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 left off all the diacriticals (accents, spiritus, iota adscriptum).
M. Schmöger, 25 February 2002
![[GES flag]](../images/g/gr^ges.gif)
Flag of the Army General Staff - Image by M. Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: Red-green-red with white fimbriation, yellow shield.
Description: The double-headed eagle with the
national coat of arms (without laurel
wreath) in the center of the body.
The double-headed eagle illustrates the two eagles of Zeus and was
used all the time in Greece, as the symbol of military and spiritual
power. In the old Greece the double-headed eagle was the symbol of divine power. In Byzantine times it symbolized the vigilant
surveillance, the courage and the freedom, the sovereignty over the
East and the West and the world domination of Christianity.
Today, the double-headed eagle continues to symbolize the adamant
Greek spirit, the vigilance and readiness of the Greek Army to
preserve the territorial integrity of our fatherland from any foreign
scheme. Furthermore, it symbolizes the Greek Christian ideals,
essential elements for guaranteeing the cultural, civilizational and
spiritual dimension of Hellenism.
Motto: ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΝ ΤΟ ΕΥΨΥΧΟΝ, eleutheron to eupsuchon (Freedom consists of
valour).
In context: "These take as your model, and judging happiness to be
the fruit of freedom and freedom of valor, never decline the dangers
of war." (Thukydides 2, 43, 4). From the funeral oration, that was
delivered by Pericles in the winter of 431 BC, at the burial of the
fallen of the Peloponnesian War.
M. Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002
![[1st Army]](../images/g/gr^1_str.gif)
Flag of the First Army - Image by M. Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: Red-green-red with white fimbriation, light blue shield.
Description: An ancient
Macedonian shield, with the Sun of
Vergina upon it.
Symbolizes the determination, the power and the will of the 1st Army,
that it will never come to a compromise with its enemies.
Motto: ΕΣΤ ΑΝ ΤΗΝ ΑΥΤΗΝ ΟΔΟΝ ΙΗ, est an tên autên odon iê (So long as it keeps its own course).
In context: "Now bring this message to Mardonios, that the
Athenians say: "As long as the sun keeps its own course by which it
now goes, we will never come to terms with Xerxes." (Herodot 8, 143).
Before the battle of Plataea (spring 479 BC), Mardonios, eager to
divide the Greeks, proposed peace to the Athenians and got the answer
above.
M. Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002
![[1st Army corps, 1st Brigade]](../images/g/gr^a_ss.gif)
Flag of the 1st Support Brigade - Image by M. Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: Blue-red-blue with white fimbriation, black shield.
Description: Helmet and spear of Leonidas.
They symbolize the determination of the 1st Army Corps to fight, if
demanded, to the last, as Leonidas did with this men at the
Thermopyles.
Motto: ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ, molôn labe (Come and get them).
In context: "When Xerxes wrote "send the arms" he wrote back "come
and get them". (Plutarch, Apophthegmata Lakonika). The above
messages were exchanged on the eve of the Thermopylae battle (August
of 480 BC) between Persian King Xerxes commanding an army of 300,000
men and Spartan King Leonidas, who was defending the Thermopylae pass
with a force of about 7,000 men (300 were Spartans, who stayed until
the end with Leonidas and fell all but one).
M. Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002
![[2nd Army corps 2nd brigace]](../images/g/gr^b_ss.gif)
Flag of the 2nd Support Brigade - Image by M. Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: Red-yellow-red with black fimbriation, black shield.
Description: A shield and crossed spears of a soldier from
ancient Sparta.
They symbolize the power, the pugnacity and the determination of the
ancients.
Motto: Η ΤΑΝ Η ΕΡΙ ΤΑΣ, ê tan ê epi tas (either this or upon this).
Encouragement by Spartan mothers to their sons, when they gave them
the shield, when they departed for war. ("Either you shall bring the
shield back as a victor, or they shall bring you dead upon it").
Remark: The motto is Spartan dialect, in Attic dialect it
would be êtên ê epi tês.
M. Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002
![[3rd Army corps 3rd Brigade]](../images/g/gr^g_ss.gif)
Flag of the 3rd Support Brigade - Image by M. Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: dark blue-yellow-dark blue with light blue fimbriation, light blue shield.
Description: It depicts the cross, symbol of faith,
patience and martyrdom, that is defended by a shield, which also
bears the cross, symbol of the power of the Byzantine emperors.
The letters "B" in the corners of the cross mean:
Basileus Basileôn, Basileuôn
Basileuontôn (King of kings, ruling over rulers). These
elements were taken from Byzantium, because Thessaloniki was the second city of Byzantion after Constantinople.
Motto: ΟΥ ΦΕΙΣΟΜΕΘΑ ΤΗΣ ΖΩΗΣ, ou pheisometha tês zôês (we
will not spare our lifes).
In context: "To deliver the city to you, is neither my right nor the
right of any other of its inhabitants, as we all, by common opinion,
are going to die defending ourselves and we will not spare our
lifes." These words constitute the answer of
Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos to
Sultan Mehmet II, who besieged Constantinople in 1453, after he had
asked him to deliver the city and withdraw safely.
M. Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002
![[4th Army corps 4th brigade]](../images/g/gr^d_ss.gif)
Flag of the 4th Support Brigade - Image by M. Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: Light blue-yellow-red with white fimbriation, light blue shield.
Description: In the light blue field, that symbolizes the
Greek sky and the seas of our country, appear two helmets and a
sword, that constitute the typical military elements of the uniform
of warriors of Alexander the Great. The hilt of the sword appears on
the bright disk of the rising sun, which is surrounded by a
rainbow.
The combination of the rainbow (symbol of calmness, optimism and
hope) and the hilt of the sword on the rising sun, symbolizes the
concurrent aim of the campaign of Alexander the Great, to distribute
Greek spirit and culture in the countries of the East he conquered.
Motto: ΤΩ ΞΙΦΕΙ ΤΩ ΔΕΣΜΟΝ ΛΕΛΥΣΘΑΙ, tô xiphei to desmon lelusthai (the knot
being undone by the sword) (Arrianos, Alexander's Anabasis 3, 7).
The phrase describes the boldness and the determination with which
Alexander the Great cut the known Gordian Knot with this sword,
verifying, with his later successes, the respective myth, that
wanted, that the one that would untie the knot would be determined to
rule over Asia.
M. Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002
![[ASDEN]](../images/g/gr^asden.gif)
Flag of the Higher Military Command - Image by M. Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: Red-light blue-red with white fimbriation, blue shield.
Description: Bas-relief of of the Lions' Gate of
Mykene.
It symbolizes the approximate geographic correspondence of the power
of the Mykenians with the area of command of ASDEN, and the unity, in
the meaning of co-ordination and collaboration, because of the big
number of units in combination with the geographical splitting of the
area of command.
Motto: amynesthai peri patrês (to defend the
fatherland).
In context: "We had better obey the counsels of Zeus Almighty, who
rules over mortals and immortals both. One is the best omen: To fight
for home and country." (Homer, Ilias 12, 243)
M. Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces 25 March 2002
![[Athens Military Command]](../images/g/gr^sda.gif)
Flag of the Special Supply Center Army Units - Image by M. Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: Light blue-yellow-light blue with white fimbriation, black shield.
Description: Theseus at the age of 16 years raises the huge
rock and takes the sword and the golden sandals, that his father had
placed there, wishing his son would take them, when he is born, grows
up and can move the rock on his own.
It symbolizes the capability of the EKEMS to take the responsibility
and to fulfill successfully its mission using all available means.
Motto: alkê kratos esti megiston (valour is the greatest power) (Homer, Ilias 9, 39). In context: "but valour he gave thee not, wherein is the greatest might".
M. Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002
![[Athens Military Hospital]](../images/g/gr^gsna.gif)
Flag of the Athens General Military Hospital - Image by Jens Pattke, 16 December 2014, after a photo taken by Jaume Ollé
Colours: Yellow-red-yellow with white fimbriation, white shield.
Apostolos Gkadris, 16 December 2014
![[1st Infantry Division]](../images/g/gr^1_mp.gif)
Flag of the 1st Infantry Division - Image by M. 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".
M. Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002
![[2nd Infantry division]](../images/g/gr^2mkmp.gif)
Flag of the Second Infantry Division - Image by M. Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: green-white-green with red fimbriation, light blue shield.
M. Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002
![[5th Infantry Division]](../images/g/gr^5_mp.gif)
Flag of the Fifth Infantry Division - Image by M. Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: violet-yellow-violet with dark blue fimbriation, red shield.
M. Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002
![[6th Infantry Division]](../images/g/gr^6_mp.gif)
Flag of the Sixth Infantry Division - Image by M. Schmöger, 25 March 2002
Colours: yellow-red-yellow with light blue fimbriation, black shield.
M. Schmöger, after the website of the Greek Armed Forces, 25 March 2002