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Law 48
(Gov. Gazette 108, issue A, dated 7.6.1975)
The
national emblem of Greece consists of a blue escutcheon with a white
cross totally surrounded by two laurel branches.
The emblem is painted or woven, mainly on the hats, uniforms and buttons
of the military, the security forces etc.
The 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 blue and white and circular in shape.
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 Capodistrias, the first Prime Minister of
modern Greece, the phoenix, the symbol of rebirth, was added. During
the reign of King Otto, the royal crest, with two crowned lions holding
the coat of arms with the royal crown, became the national emblem
of the country. With the arrival of King George I, the Bavarian emblem
was replaced by the Danish one. After Greece became a republic in
1924 the national emblem consisted of a simple white cross on a blue
background. The Danish emblem returned with the restoration of the
Monarchy until 1967. |
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