FLAG OF EGYPT: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The flag of Egypt is one of the national symbols of the African country and represents it to the world. The current flag has three horizontal stripes of the same size: the upper stripe is red, the middle stripe is white and the lower stripe is black. This flag dates from October 4, 1984.

Each of the elements has a specific meaning due to the history of the country. Red was adopted from the flag used during the 19th century, white is due to the 1952 revolution, and black represents the end of oppression by the British.

In the central strip you can see the shield of Egypt represented by the Saladin eagle, a heraldic figure also used by the shields of Iraq and Palestine. In some way, the modifications made to the flag throughout the history of Egypt tell the history of the country.

Like the rest of the nations, the flag represents an important national symbol for which certain rules of respect and protocol have been established. The ratio of the Egyptian flag is 2: 3.

History

Egypt's first national flag was created by Mehmet Ali, the country's Ottoman pasha in the early 19th century; at this time, Egypt was a province of the Ottoman Empire.

During these years the national flag was modified three times. This would be the first period of modifications to the national flag, before Egypt was constituted as a country.

The earliest specimen, used from 1844 to 1867 in Egypt Eyaler, featured a crescent and a five-pointed star on the right side, all on a red background. There are various interpretations of this flag.

For some, it represents the victory of the Egyptian armies in Africa, Europe and Asia. Another version explains that this flag symbolizes the sovereignty of Mehmer Ali in Egypt, Sudan and Nubia.

In 1867, under Isma'il Pasha and Tewfik, the flag was modified so that a crescent was left centered on the red background with 3 5-pointed stars on the right side. This flag was kept until 1881.

Nationalist flag

Then came the time when the nationalist movements were in great fervor. In this period the presence and existence of British in the territory was rejected and the flag was modified again.

That era ran from 1881 to 1914. At that time the central crescent was removed and three crescents were added to the left side of the flag. Each of these had a 5-pointed star.

Second period of modifications

In 1914 the United Kingdom made Egypt a protectorate of the League of Nations and no changes were made to the flag.

In 1922, the United Kingdom recognized the independence of the Arab country. Since then, a new flag with a background and a crescent with three stars has been adapted.

When the Free Officers Movement removed King Farul I in 1952 and the Republic was declared the following year, a new flag was made.

Republican flag

The new government designed the flag with a tricolor made up of red, white and black, just like the current one.

This flag differs from the current one by the following: in the central eagle it contains a sphere composed of a half moon and three stars on a green background, reminiscent of the previous flag.

In 1958 the United Arab Republic was born, when Egypt and Syria were unified. On this date the shield on the flag was removed and two green stars were added to represent both countries.

In 1972 the Federation of Arab Republics was formed, where Libya and Syria join Egypt. The shield became the Qureish hawk instead of the eagle.

In 1984 the hawk was eliminated and the Saladin eagle was received once again. The animal was in a size that allowed it to occupy only the central strip. This is the current flag.

Meaning

The flag of Egypt differs from others because each of its elements was chosen by the so-called Free Egyptian Officials. They defeated King Farouk in the wake of the 1952 Revolution.

It should be noted that the characteristic tricolor of Egypt had a great impact as a symbol for the rest of the Arab peoples. This is evident because many of their flags have adopted the same colors for their flags.

Some countries that use this tricolor are Yemen, Sudan, Iraq, and Syria. Libya uses a tricolor, but white was replaced by black.

The red stripe represents the blood shed by the officers and the people during the struggle against the British yoke, and the abuse of power they exercised over them.

The white color of the central strip is made in honor of the patriots. It represents a call to fight against the power that had subjected the people. In addition, the target seeks to maintain the revolutionary spirit.

The last black strip represents the end of the dark days of the yoke to which the Egyptian people were subjected. During those days the satrap kings and the foreign empire of the British Crown were in control.

Flag shield and hoisted

The current shield of the Egyptian flag is a Saladin eagle. This is a heraldic figure also used by Iraq and Palestine.

In Arab culture, the eagle has been used as a symbol in Yemen, Iraq and the State of Palestine. The eagle is golden and holds on his chest a shield with the colors of the flag on a stick.

It can be seen that the eagle rests on a ribbon on which the official denomination of Egypt is read written in Arabic with Kufic calligraphy. This shield was added to the flag in 1958.

On the other hand, Egypt has the custom of hoisting the flag in government buildings, during national fairs, in parliament and other places specified by the Ministry of the Interior.

At borders, customs, embassies and consulates the flag must be raised daily. Under Egyptian law, anyone who exposes the national flag to mockery or aggression of any kind will be penalized. Also, depending on the use made of other flags in national events, people can be penalized.

References

1. Arias, E. (2006). Flags of the world. Editorial Gente Nueva: Havana, Cuba.
2. BBF. (1979). Flags of the world. Bulletin des bibliothèques de France (BBF). 4, 215. Recovered from bbf.enssib.fr.
3. Egypt State Information Service (SIS). (July 20, 2009). Egypt Flag. State Information Service (SIS). Recovered from sis.gov.eg.
4. Smith, W. (1975). Flags Through the Ages and Across the World. London, UK: McGraw-Hill Book Company Ltd. Maidenhead.
5. Podeh, E. (2011), The symbolism of the Arab flag in modern Arab states: between commonality and uniqueness. Nations and Nationalism, 17: 419-442. Recovered from onlinelibrary.wiley.com.