FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2022-008 DAILY FEATURE:

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (January 13, 2022) – In Issue 2022-008 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps, steal a page from Sheldon Cooper and “The Big Bang Theory”.

FUN WITH FLAGS

The Greek flag was adopted on this date in 1822, making the design an official symbol of the country for the last 200 years.

The white and blue colors of the sky and sea are arranged in nine stripes with a cross in the upper left corner.  The cross represents the Orthodox church.

There are various theories about the number of stripes: nine Greek Muses, nine letters in the Greek word for freedom.  However, popular tradition holds that the Greek phrase for “Freedom or Death” is made up of nine symbols and the five blue stripes represent freedom while the four white ones stand for death.

The flag was originally used primarily as a naval ensign but now represents the country both on land and sea.

Here is Tanner’s map of Greece from 14 years after the adoption of the new flag.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Antique Maps & Fun Facts here on Loveland Beacon.