Eleftheria i thanatos.html |
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For the book Freedom or Death by Nikos Kazantzakis, see Captain Michalis.
Eleftheria i thanatos (Greek: Ελευθερία ή θάνατος, pron. [e̞.le̞f.θe̞.ˈri.ˌa ˈi ˈθa.na.ˌto̞s̠], "freedom or death") is the motto1 of Greece. It arose during the Greek War of Independence in the 1820s, where it was a war cry for the Greeks who rebelled against Ottoman rule. It was adopted after the Greek War of Independence. It is still in use today, and is symbolically evoked2 by the use of 9 stripes (for the nine syllables of the motto) in the Greek flag. The motto symbolized and still symbolizes the resolve of the people of Greece against tyranny and oppression.
References
- ^ Pedersen, Christian Fogd (1971). The International Flag Book in Color. Morrow. p. 166.
* Crampton, William (1991). Complete Guide to Flags. Gallery Books. p. 57. ISBN 0-831-71605-3. - ^ Hinde, Robert A.; Watson, Helen (1995). War: A Cruel Necessity? : the Bases of Institutionalized Violence. I.B. Tauris. p. 55. ISBN 1-850-43824-2.
* Smith, Whitney (2001). Flag Lore of All Nations. Milbrook Press. p. 40. ISBN 0-761-31753-8.