Flag of Greece of the exact reasoning behind its official adoption in early 1822. It has been suggested by some Greek historians that the current flag derived from an older design, the virtually identical flag of the powerful Cretan Kallergis family. This flag was based on their coat of arms, whose pattern is supposed to be derived from the standards of their claimed ancestor, Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus II Phocas (963–969 AD). This pattern (according to not easily verifiable descriptions) included nine stripes of alternating blue and white, as well as a cross, assumed to be placed on the upper left. Although the use
Flag of Zakynthos colour as the central image. The flag flies throughout the island and is flown above every public building, often in tandem with the national flag of Greece. Flag of Zakynthos The flag of Zakynthos, Greece, or Flag of Zante, has a dark green background with an orange depiction of Zakynthos, the mytho-historical first resident of the island and its namesake, in the centre. Zakynthos, partially draped in a robe, is sitting on rock holding a semi-coiled snake to the right. Zakynthos (ΖΑΚΥΝΘΟΣ) is written to the upper right of the man, with the island's motto ""Freedom needs virtue and courage""