National Symbols of Greece

Last updated on August 27th, 2023 by Editorial Staff

Table Of Contents
  1. Introduction
  2. Country Information
  3. Coat of arms
  4. Flag map
  5. Country motto
  6. National animal
  7. National flower
  8. National bird
  9. Rest of national symbols
  10. State symbols
  11. Neighbouring countries
  12. Proverbs & sayings
  13. Compare with other countries
  14. Location

Greece, the most southeastern European country, is the country with the longest coastline in Europe. Having more than 6000 islands, Greece is well known for its islands in the blue Aegean Sea to the east, in the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and in the Ionian Sea to the west.

Being the cradle of Western Civilization with its ancient history, Greece has the national motto “Eleftheria I Thanatos – Freedom or Death.” The national language is Greek. The capital Athens is the biggest city and is located in the southern part of the mainland.

Greece has some diversity in ethnicity with Greeks, Arvanites, Pomaks, and Pontic Greeks. Being devoted to the Greek Orthodox Church, most of the population see religion as a vital part of their identity. Greece is a member state of the European Union, so the monetary unit used is the “Euro.” The country code is +30, while the national domain is “.gr.”

Being the first people to rule the region and speak Greek, Mycenaeans are considered the country’s founders. The 25th of March, the national day (also called the Greek Independence Day), is when Greece got its independence from the Ottomans in 1821. The national hero Markos Botsaris was a general and a hero who fought in the Greek Independence War. The national colors of Greece are blue and white. Greece’s national flag consists of nine horizontal stripes of blue and white with a blue canton bearing a white cross in the upper left corner. The national emblem is a white orthodox cross on a blue background surrounded by blue and white olive tree leaves.

Greece has many national symbols, such as the national monument Acropolis of Athens. Located on a rocky hilltop near Athens, Acropolis is an ancient citadel consisting of many historically significant buildings under UNESCO’s protection. The national mausoleum is a cenotaph dedicated to every soldier in Greek history who died for their country; “Tomb of The Unknown Soldier.”

Dancing in a circle with holding hands, Kalamatianos is the national dance and another national symbol of Greece. Typically dancers wear the national dresses, which consist of a “foustanella” or trousers, a shirt called “poukamiso,” a vest called “yeleko” or “meindani,” a sash called “zonari,” unique leg coverings called “kaltses,” and leg garters called “gonatares,” and shoes called “tsarouhia.”

The national musical instrument is a long-necked lute called the bouzouki. Greece’s national poets are Homeros from ancient Greece and Dionysios Solomos, whose poems later became the lyrics of the national anthem “Hymn to Liberty.”

Greece’s national dish is an eggplant-based dish called Mousaka. The national drink is the anis-based alcoholic beverage “ouzo.” Olive Olea Europaea, the olive tree, is another national symbol and the national tree grown in every village in Greece. Acanthus Mollis, also known as the bear’s breech, is the national flower. Dolphin is the country’s national animal, while the national bird is the little owl.

Football is the national sport which is the most-watched sport in Greece. The country also has its airline called Aegean Airlines.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis is the current Prime minister of Greece and Katerina Sakellaropoulou is the President.


– Learn about Greece flag color codes and their meanings –

– Further information regarding the symbols and knowledge of Greece can be found in the table of contents –

Country information

Former name(s) Hellas
Official name(s) Hellenic Republic
Alternative name(s) Hellenic Republic (official, English)
Regional location Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Country name etymology Unknown
Climate Temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain Mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Population 10,423,054
National Day 25 Mar 1821
Language(s) Greek
Religion Christianity Greek Orthodoxy
Country code +30
Literacy rate 97.4%
Currency Euro
Capital city Athens
ISO GRC
Domain(TLD) .gr
Ethnicity Greeks, Arvanites, Pomaks, and Pontic Greeks
Head of government Prime Minister
Nationality Greek
Driving side Drive on the Right-hand side
Date format dd/mm/yyyy
Total area 131,957 km² (50,949 sq mi)
Timezone UTC+02:00 (Eastern European Time)
Average elevation 498 m (1,634 ft)
Coastline 13,676 km
Mains electricity 230 V
Emergency telephone numbers Emergency Telephone Numbers

Coat of arms

Flag map of Greece

Flag map of Greece

Motto of Greece

Ελευθερία ή θάνατος - Eleftheria i thanatos - "Freedom or Death"

National animal of Greece

The National animal of Greece is Dolphin

National Animal of Greece - Dolphin

National flower of Greece

The National flower of Greece is Bear's Breech. Botanical name is Acanthus Mollis.

National flower of Greece - Bear's Breech

National bird of Greece

The National bird of Greece is Little owl

National bird of Greece - Little owl

Rest of the National symbols of Greece 👇

Neighbouring countries of Greece

Greek Proverbs - Popular quotes, proverbs and sayings.

Great abilities produce great vices as well as virtues.

Men who have lost heart never yet won a trophy.

A truth spoken before its time is dangerous.

The rain wets the leopard's spots but does not wash them off.

First secure an independent income, then practice virtue.

Compare Greece with other countries

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Compare Greece with its neighbours

Country location

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