Greek heraldry

Greek heraldry, though not as developed as in other countries, has an interesting history in and of itself by drawing upon it Byzantine heritage and influences from the various western powers that have occupied Greek lands. Heraldry is therefore seen as a foreign concept, and is widespread mostly in the Ionian and Aegean Islands (former Venetian and Genoese possessions) and among the families of Phanariot origin

Ancient Greeks were among the first civilizations to use symbols consistently in order to identify a warrior, clan or a state. In Aeschylus’ tragedy “Seven Against Thebes” there is the first record of a shield blazon.