Armiger Hellenic Republic Escutcheon Azure, a Cross Argent | Adopted 1975 | |
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Other elements The escutcheon is wholly surrounded by two laurel leaves. | ||
The coat of arms of Greece displays a white cross on a blue escutcheon, which is surrounded by two laurel branches.
Contents
- 18321863 Wittelsbach dynasty
- 19241935 Second Hellenic Republic
- 1864 1924 and 19351973 Glcksburg dynasty
- 1975present
- Historical non heraldic emblems
- References
The constitution does not specify a tincture for the branches, implying proper (i.e. green). The Greek government normally uses a design in which the laurel branches are monochrome blue. A version with golden laurel leaves is displayed by the military and on the presidential standard.
1832–1863: Wittelsbach dynasty
The first Greek coat of arms was introduced during the reign of the Bavarian King Otto. Based on that of the Kingdom of Bavaria, and supported by two crowned lions rampant and surmounted by the royal crown. The escutcheon of pretence was the coat of arms of Bavaria, as a symbol of the House of Wittelsbach.
This emblem was discarded upon the king's exile in 1862.
1924–1935: Second Hellenic Republic
When Greece became a republic in 1924, all external ornamentation was discarded.
1864-1924 and 1935–1973: Glücksburg dynasty
After Otto's fall, the young Prince William of Denmark was in 1864 chosen as king, and the new achievement for the coat of arms bore a strong resemblance to that of the Danish Royal Family. The escutcheon remained the same, but the dynastic arms of the Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg family became the new escutcheon of pretence. The shield remained surmounded by the royal crown. Two new male figures were introduced as new supporters, alluding to the legendary Heracles. The Order of the Redeemer was also added. The motto of the dynasty, i.e. Ἰσχύς μου ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ λαοῦ ("People's love, my strength"), was also introduced.
This achievement remains in use by the current pretender Greek Royal Family.
1975–present
In 1973, the then-ruling military junta abolished the monarchy. 7 June 1975, the current arms was introduced. This is a restoration of the traditional arms, yet with laurel leaves being the sole external ornamentation. The government uses a stylised design by the artist Kostas Grammatopoulos.
Historical, non-heraldic emblems
The first Greek national emblem was provided for by the Constitution of Epidauros 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 Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first Prime Minister of modern Greece, the phoenix, the symbol of rebirth, was added.