The Greek Flag - meaning of the stripes?

Question

Is there a meaning for the nine stripes on the Greek flag? After reading Nikos Kazantzakis's book I would like to believe there is. On our last holiday in Greece we had drinks with a history teacher and his wife and asked them was it urban legend or, αs I would like it to be the nine syllables from 'Ελευθερία ή θάνατος' - Freedom or Death?

He said it was, but his wife said it was the nine letters in 'Ελευθερία!  As often happens the next table wondered what an English tourist was talking about in and said it was the nine Muses!!

I like to think NK is correct - who are we to argue with the great Greek writer!

Ευχαριστώ πολύ

Ιάκοβος

Answer 1

Hello

This is outside the scope of a "modern Greek language" forum.  Aside this, your friends seem to be correct:

The nine stripes correspond to the syllables of the historical phrase «Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος» (Freedom or Death), as well as to the letters of the word «Ελευθερία» (Freedom).

Source: Σημαία της Ελλάδας

Comments

Thank you so much for that!
Ιάκοβος