Flag of Armenia

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Republic of Armenia
tricolour of red, blue, and orange
Designed byStepan Malkhasyants
orange, defaced
 with the presidential seal at its centre.

The

National Assembly of Armenia
.

Throughout history, there have been many variations of the Armenian flag. In ancient times, Armenian dynasties were represented by different symbolic animals displayed on their flags.

Armenian SSR
.

The meanings of the colours are interpreted in many different ways. The red stands for the Armenian highlands, the Armenian people's continued struggle for survival, maintenance of the Christian faith and Armenia's independence and freedom, blue is for the Armenian peaceful skies, and orange represents the nation's talent and hard-work.[2]

Design

Construction of Flag of Armenia

The symbolism of the flag's colors is officially given in the 2006 law on the National Flag of Armenia:

The red emblematizes the

Christian faith, Armenia's independence and freedom. The blue emblematizes the will of the people of Armenia to live beneath peaceful skies. The orange emblematizes the creative talent and hard-working nature of the people of Armenia.[2]

In 2012, the Armenian National Institute of Standards (SARM) issued specifications about the construction and colours on the national flag:[3]

Scheme Red Blue Orange
Pantone 485 286 1235
CMYK 0–100–100–0 100–80–0–0 0–35–100–0
RGB 217–0–18 0–51–160 242–168–0
HEX #D90012 #0033A0 #F2A800
Armenian flag with official CMYK colors

History

Further information: List of Armenian flags

Today's

tricolour flag bears little resemblance to the earliest Armenian 'flags'. In ancient times, armies went into battle behind carvings mounted on poles. The carvings might represent a dragon, an eagle, a lion or "some mysterious object of the gods".[1]

Middle Ages

During the invasion of the Arabs, despite stronger resistance than even the Persian, Armenia came under control

Armenian Emirate
was created, stretching from modern Baku and Derbent in the east to the sources of the Euphrates in the west and from the Terek River in the north to Lake Urmia in the south. The emirate received a flag, which is a black cloth without any additional elements on it.

In 885, Armenia gained independence and the flag, which is a dark red canvas with the image of a white leopard and a Christian cross on it. Now the "Ani leopard" from this flag is also an element of the flag and coat of arms of the second largest city and cultural capital of Armenia -

Armenian Kingdom
was not the flag of the ruling dynasty.

One of the first atlases to contain an Armenian state, a 1339 map by

rampant on top of a striped blue and white background representing the Lusignans, the bottom right showing a white background with a red lion rampnt, and crowned with a golden crown representing the Rubenids, and the bottom left showing a red background with a yellow or gold lion with a crown representing the Hethumids.[7]

19th century

After Armenia was split between the

Armenian Students Association of Paris requested one for the funeral of the French writer Victor Hugo. Alishan's first design was a horizontal tricolour, the top band was red, symbolizing the first Sunday of Easter (called "Red" Sunday), followed by a green band to represent the "Green" Sunday of Easter, and finally an arbitrary colour, white, was chosen to complete the combination.[1] While in France, Alishan also designed a second flag. Its colours were red, green, and either blue or yellow, representing the rainbow that Noah saw after landing on Mount Ararat.[1] During the Russo-Persian War of 1826–1828, the Armenian volunteer militias had three battle flags, boasting the Double-headed eagle, Noah's Ark, and a depiction of Jesus Christ.[13]

First Republic of Armenia

On 1 August 1918, after the declaration of the

Armenian people, the blue represented the sky of Armenia and the orange represented the talent and work of the Armenian people. The proposed flag sparked significant debate in the parliament, in which several proposed flags historically used in Armenia were brought up. Many members argued that the orange should be replaced with green, as orange cloth was difficult to source in Armenia at the time. However, Prime Minister Hovhannes Kajaznuni believed the orange to be more aesthetically pleasing, and so kept the color. Later that day, a vote was held, in which it was decided that the flag was to be a horizontal tricolor of red, blue, and orange, with a height to width ratio of 2:3.[15]

The design was seemingly temporary, and was to be approved by the

Socialist Soviet Republic of Armenia.[14]

Several alternate proposals for the flag were made by Armenians. On 31 July 1919, Armenian artist

primary colored bars twice as large as the secondary color bars.[15] The final attached imaged is a tricolor of red, yellow, and blue from top to bottom, possibly arranged to match their order in a rainbow.[16]

In April 1919, a proposal for the flag of Armenia was published in the Armenian diaspora journal Veradzenount [fr], consisting of a horizontal bicolor with the top two-thirds blue, and the bottom third red, with a white cross in the center.[14]

  • Flag of the First Republic of Armenia (1918–1922)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of the First Republic of Armenia
    (1918–1922)
  • First rainbow flag proposed by Saryan
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag First rainbow flag proposed by Saryan
  • Second rainbow flag proposed by Saryan
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Second rainbow flag proposed by Saryan
  • Tricolor flag proposed by Saryan
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Tricolor flag proposed by Saryan
  • Proposed flag using the color scheme of Alishan's second flag, with an image of Noah's Ark atop Mount Ararat
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Proposed flag using the color scheme of Alishan's second flag, with an image of Noah's Ark atop Mount Ararat
  • Flag proposed by the Mekhitarists
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag proposed by the Mekhitarists

Armenian SSR

Main article:
Flag of the Armenian SSR

On 2 February 1922, the Constitution of the Armenian SSR was signed into law, describing the republic's flag in Article 89 as a red banner, with the gold letters "Հ.Խ.Ս.Հ."[a] in the upper left corner. Official contemporaneous media which depict the flag, such as pins and certificates, often portray it with variations, including periods between the letters, and with a gold frame around the letters. Additionally, an 1923 book published by the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs depicts the lettering of the flag in Cyrillic script, instead of in the Armenian alphabet used in the constitution's description.[17]

The flag would continue to be used by the Armenian SSR even after its integration into the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic in 1922. The new constitution of the Armenian SSR under the Transcaucasian SFSR, approved on 4 March 1927, described the flag almost exactly the same as the 1922 constitution.[17]

In 1936, the

obverse of the new flag was composed of a red field, with a horizontal blue stripe running through the center, and a golden hammer and sickle below a star in the canton. The reverse of the flag simply contained the red field and blue stripe.[17]

In late May 1988, amid rising nationalist tensions due to glasnost and perestroika, the leader of the Communist Party of Armenia, Suren Harutyunyan [hy], allowed the previously banned flag of the First Republic of Armenia to fly in Yerevan for the first time in over sixty years.[18] A year later, he urged that the flag be officially recognized, after a mass demonstration by the Karabakh movement where the tricolour was flown.[19] This came on 24 August 1990, a day after the Armenian Supreme Soviet declared the republic's sovereignty and renamed the country the Republic of Armenia. At that point, just over a year before Armenia declared its formal independence from the USSR, the tricolour replaced the 1952 flag.

  • Depiction of the flag of the Armenian SSR in Cyrillic (1923)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Depiction of the flag of the Armenian SSR in Cyrillic
    (1923)
  • Flag of the Armenian SSR (1922-1937)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of the Armenian SSR
    (1922-1937)
  • Flag of the Armenian SSR (1937−1940)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of the Armenian SSR
    (1937−1940)
  • Flag of the Armenian SSR (1940−1952)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of the Armenian SSR
    (1940−1952)
  • Flag of the Armenian SSR, obverse (1952–1990)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of the Armenian SSR, obverse
    (1952–1990)
  • Flag of the Armenian SSR, reverse (1952–1990)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of the Armenian SSR, reverse
    (1952–1990)
  • Flag of the Armenian SSR (1990−1991)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of the Armenian SSR
    (1990−1991)

Usage

The flag waving at the Armenian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Sukhoi Superjets
.

The 2006 law on the National Flag of Armenia states that the flag has to be raised on the following public buildings:[20]

The law requires the lowering of the flag to the midpoint of the flagpole on the days of mourning or during mourning ceremonies. A black ribbon needs to be placed at the top of the flag; the length of the ribbon should be equal to the length of the flag. The flying flag has to be raised in its entirety, clean, and unfaded; moreover, the lower part of the flag should be at least 2.5 m off the ground.[21]

National flag days

The day of the National Flag of Armenia is marked on 15 June every year. The day is chosen for the reason that the Armenian law on the National Flag of Armenia was passed on 15 June 2006.[22] The day of the Armenian tricolour was celebrated for the first time on 15 June 2010 in Yerevan.[23]

The daily display of the Armenian flag is encouraged, but legally required only on the following days:[24]

  • 1 January, 2 January – New Year
  • 6 January – Christmas
  • 8 March – International Women's Day
  • 7 April – Motherhood and Beauty Day
  • 1 May – International Worker's Solidarity Day
  • 9 May – Victory and Peace Day
  • 28 May – First Armenian Republic Day, 1918
  • 5 July – Constitution Day, 1995
  • 21 September – Independence Day, 1991
  • 7 December –
    Spitak Earthquake Memorial Day
    , 1988

Influence

The national flag is also mentioned in the song "Mer Hayrenik" (Our Fatherland), the national anthem of Armenia. Specifically, the second and third stanzas sing about the creation of the national flag:[25]

Here is a flag for you my brother,
That I have sewed
Over the sleepless nights,
And bathed in my tears.

Look at it, tricoloured,
A valuable symbol for us.
Let it shine against the enemy.
Let Armenia be glorious forever.

Flag of Artsakh

Main article: Flag of the Republic of Artsakh
See also: Coat of arms of the Republic of Artsakh
zig-zag chevron
in the fly.

On 2 June 1992, the

separated region of Armenia by the triangular shape and the zigzag cutting through the flag. The pattern was also similar to the designs used on rugs. The ratio of the flag's breadth to its length is 1:2, same as the Armenian tricolour.[26]

Flag of the Pan-Armenian Games

In addition to the flag of Artsakh, the Armenian flag colors influenced the design of the

Olympic rings. The sixth, orange-colored ring, interlocks with the blue and red rings, which symbolize Armenia. Above the rings is a flame in the colors of the Armenian flag.[27]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The abbreviation for the Socialist Soviet Republic of Armenia, (Armenian: Հայաստանի Սոցիալիստական Խորհրդային Հանրապետություն)
  2. ^ The abbreviation for the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, (Armenian: Հայկական Սովետական Սոցիալիստական Ռեսպուբլիկա)

References

  1. ^ a b c d Armenian Heritage Organization 2001.
  2. ^ a b HO-149, On the Flag of the Republic of Armenia, § 2.
  3. ^ HST 50-2012 − General Specifications of the Republic of Armenia flag, p. 5.
  4. ^ Galichian 2004, p. 59.
  5. ^ Պատրիկ, Ա․ Ն․ (1967). Պատմական Հայ Դրոշները (in Armenian).
  6. ^ a b Markham, Clements Robert; Jimenez de la Espada, Marcos (1912). Book of the Knowledge of all the Kingdoms, Lands, and Lordships that are in the World (2nd ed.). London: The Hakluyt Society. pp. 18, 21, 23.
  7. ^ "Latin Manuscripts : Armorial". Manchester Digital Collections. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Patrik, Arakel (1974). Պատմագիրք Յուշամատեան Սեբաստիոյ Եւ Գաւառի Հայութեան Հատոր Ա․ (in Armenian). Beirut: Meshag Press. p. 146.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Պատրիկ, Ա․ Ն․ (1967). Պատմական Հայ Դրոշները (in Armenian).
  10. ^ a b c d e f Markham, Clements Robert; Jimenez de la Espada, Marcos (1912). Book of the Knowledge of all the Kingdoms, Lands, and Lordships that are in the World (2nd ed.). London: The Hakluyt Society. pp. 18, 21, 23.
  11. ^ "Latin Manuscripts : Armorial". Manchester Digital Collections. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  12. ^ Cortesão, Armando (1960). Portugaliae Monumenta Cartographica (2nd ed.). Lisbon: Unknown publisher.
  13. ^ Nazaryan, Hayk (2022). Աշխատություններ Հայաստանի Պատմության Թանգարանի 1(9) (in Armenian). Yerevan: Unknown publisher. pp. 178–179.
  14. ^ a b c d Russian Centre of Vexillology and Heraldry 2011, Republic of Armenia.
  15. ^ a b c d Hovhannissian 2009.
  16. ^ a b Tert 2012.
  17. ^ a b c Russian Centre of Vexillology and Heraldry 2023, Soviet Armenia.
  18. ^ De Waal 2004, p. 60-61.
  19. ^ King & Cushman 1992, p. 102.
  20. ^ HO-149, On the Flag of the Republic of Armenia, § 3.
  21. ^ HO-149, On the Flag of the Republic of Armenia, § 4, 7.
  22. ^ Demotix News 2010.
  23. ^ Yerevan Report 2010.
  24. ^ Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations 2007.
  25. ^ President of the Republic of Armenia.
  26. ^ a b Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh 2007.
  27. ^ "Armenia: Sport flags". Flags of the World. Retrieved 9 January 2007.

Citations

Books

  • Galichian, Rouben (2004). Historic Maps of Armenia: The Cartographic Heritage. London: I.B. Tauris.
    ISBN 978-1-86064-979-0
    .

Journal articles

News Articles

Policy

Websites

  • "About Armenia". Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations. Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
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