Flag of Cyprus
Cyprus's flag is white with a copper-orange map of the island in the middle and two crossed green olive branches below it.
At a glance
- Adopted
- April 24, 2006first adopted at independence on 16 August 1960; in 2006 the olive branches, colours and proportions were updated
- Shape (height : width)
- 2:3
- Capital
- Nicosia
- Colours
- white
- copper orange
- olive green
What it means
- Copper-coloured map: the island itself; the colour recalls the copper mined on Cyprus since ancient times, a metal whose name is linked to the island's name
- Olive branches: peace between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities
- White field: peace
Where it came from
The flag was designed in 1960 by Ismet Guney, a Turkish Cypriot artist. Cyprus's new constitution said the flag must have a "neutral design and colour", chosen together by the Greek Cypriot president and the Turkish Cypriot vice-president.
So the flag avoids blue and red, the main colours of the Greek and Turkish flags, and has no cross or crescent.
History
Before 1960 Cyprus was a British colony and used British colonial flags. Before independence, the British colonial government proposed a brown letter K on white, but the island's leaders chose Guney's design instead.
Over the years flags made on the island often had different shades and shapes. In 2006 the government updated the official design: the olive branches were slightly reshaped, the copper and green shades were changed, and the proportions were set at 2:3. A new flag proposed under the 2004 Annan Plan was never adopted.
Fun facts
- Like Kosovo, Cyprus shows a map of the whole country on its flag, which is very rare.
- The flag was designed on purpose to be neutral between two communities.
- People in Cyprus may also fly the Greek or Turkish flag beside the national flag.
- The English word "copper" may come from the island's old Latin name.
Easy to mix up with
Kosovo: Kosovo also shows a map of the country, but in gold on a blue field with six white stars above it
Questions
What does the flag of Cyprus look like?
Cyprus's flag is white with a copper-orange map of the island in the middle and two crossed green olive branches below it.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Cyprus mean?
Copper-coloured map: the island itself; the colour recalls the copper mined on Cyprus since ancient times, a metal whose name is linked to the island's name; Olive branches: peace between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities; White field: peace.
When was the flag of Cyprus adopted?
The current flag of Cyprus was adopted on April 24, 2006. (first adopted at independence on 16 August 1960; in 2006 the olive branches, colours and proportions were updated)
What colours are on the flag of Cyprus?
The flag of Cyprus uses white, copper orange and olive green.
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of Cyprus?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of Kosovo. Kosovo also shows a map of the country, but in gold on a blue field with six white stars above it
Famous landmarks in Cyprus
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)