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Syria

 

Contents

Flags

Other Flags

Historical Flags

Meaning/Origin of the Flag

Coat of Arms

Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

Aircraft Roundel

Map

Numbers and Facts

History

Origin of the Country's Name



Flags

Flagge Fahne Flag National flag State flag national flag state flag Merchant flag merchant flag Naval flag naval flag Syrien Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
National, state, merchant and naval flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Präsident President Syrien Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
Flag of the President,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Flags of the World





Flagge Fahne Flag Streitkräfte Armed Forces Syrien Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
Flag of the Armed Forces,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Heer Army Syrien Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
Flag of the Army,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Luftwaffe Air Force Syrien Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
Flag of the Air Force,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Marine Navy Syrien Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
Flag of the Navy,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Nationale Verteidigungskräfte national defence force Syrien Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
since 2012,
Flag of the National Defence Force,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Baath-Partei Baath Partei Party Syrien Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
Flag of the Baath Party,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World



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Other Flags

Flagge Fahne Flag Rojava Kurden Kurds Kurdish region Westkurdistan
since 17th of March in 2016, Rojava,
Flag of the autonomous Kurdish region of Rojava in Northern Syria,
Source, by: Wikipedia (DE)




Flagge Fahne Flag Syrien Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah Chaldäer Christen Chaldäisch-katholische Kirche Chaldeans Christians Chaldean Catholic Church
Flag of the Chaldeans
(Christians of the Chaldean Catholic Church),
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Syrien Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah Aramäer Arameans
Flag of the Arameans,
ratio = 1:2 (2:3),
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Syrien Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah Assyrer Assyrians
Flag of the Assyrians,
ratio = 7:10,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Drusen Druze Syrien Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
Flag of Druze,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Wikipedia (DE)



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Historical Flags

Flagge Fahne flag Osmanisches Reich Ottoman Empire Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
to 1918,
Flag of the Ottoman Empire,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag National flag Jordanien Jordan Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah Flagge des arabischen Aufstandes
1918–1920,
Flag of the Arab Uprising,
Source, by: Die Welt der Flaggen




Flagge Fahne Flag Königreich Kingdom Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
1920 (March–July),
Flag of the Kingdom of Syria,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Königreich Kingdom Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
1920 (July–Aug.),
Syria under French Mandate,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
1922–1932,
National flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
1932–1958, 1961–1963,
National flag,
ratio = 2:3 (1:2),
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
1958–1961,
National flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
1963–1972,
National flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah Föderation Arabischer Republiken
1972–1980,
National flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World



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Meaning/Origin of the Flag

The current flag of Syria was reintroduced on 29th March in 1980, after it had been in use between 1958 and 1961. It shows three horizontal stripes of red, white and black, as well as two five-pointed green stars in the middle of the white stripe. The color triad of red, white and black is sometimes referred to as the Pan-Arabian colors. That's not quite true. The three colors go back to Gamal Abd el-Nasser, Egyptian officer, politician and later state and prime minister (1918–1970), most important representative of Arab nationalism and pan-Arabism. After the national revolution of 1952, the Arab Liberation Flag was introduced in Egypt, which represented these ideals. It became a model for many other Arab states and alliances of states, at least in terms of selection and arrangement. The colors always represent the revolution (red), the future (white) and the past (black). The colors red, white and black still go back to the flag of the Arab Revolt in the First World War. Green is also one of the colors of the Arab Uprising (Arab Movement). The first flag of Syria dates back to 1920, when there was a brief Kingdom of Syria. Its flag was the flag of the Arab Uprising, but the red triangle on the mast also showed a white, seven-pointed star. Afterwards, what is now Syria and Lebanon came under the French mandate of the League of Nations. A light blue flag with a crescent and the French tricolor in the upper corner was adopted for the area in 1920. But after just a few months, the mandate was divided ethnically and religiously into different areas, each with their own different flags, but nearly all with the French tricolor in the top corner. These were: 1) Alawite State of Latakia (1920–1936), 2) State of Aleppo (1920–1924), 3) State of Damascus (1920–1922), 4) State of Greater Lebanon (1920–1943), 5) Druze State of Souaida (1921–1932). These areas were gradually brought back under common administration, the Syrian Federation, founded in 1922. Its flag featured three horizontal stripes of green, white and green and the French tricolor in the upper corner. The state of Syria emerged from this federation in 1925, which probably retained the green-white-green flag until 1932. A new flag was introduced on 1st of January in 1932. It featured three horizontal stripes of green, white and black, as well as three five-pointed red stars in the middle of the white stripe. The colors of this flag are the Pan-Arab Colors (see below) and refer to the flag of the Arab Uprising introduced by the Hashemites from Hejaz in 1918. The three stars stood for the three former Ottoman provinces of Damascus, Aleppo and Deir az-Zor, from which Syria was formed after the First World War. The flag remained in use in Syria until the country joined the United Arab Republic (UAR) in 1958 and the common flag was used. This flag showed three horizontal stripes of red, white and black, as well as two five-pointed green stars (Syria and Egypt) in the middle of the white stripe. After Syria left the UAR in 1961, the previous flag was reintroduced. On 8th of March in 1963, a new flag was introduced that was similar to the UAR flag. It featured three horizontal stripes of red, white and black, as well as three five-pointed green stars in the middle of the white stripe. The three stars on this flag symbolized a proposed union with Egypt and Iraq. This flag was also introduced in Iraq and has in principle been retained to 2008. In 1971, President Hafiz al Assad came to power in Syria and in 1972 a new flag was introduced once more. The three stars were removed and replaced with a golden version of the national coat of arms. The UAR flag was reintroduced on 29th of March in 1980 and has been retained to this day. The two stars now represent the hope of once again forming a strong alliance with Egypt.

The Pan-Arabian Colors: The four colours of green, white, black and red are a special Arabic colour symbol, the Pan-Arabic colours. These colours were officially introduced as the colours of the Arab Movement during the First World War, when the Kingdom of Hejaz broke away from the Ottoman Empire, by Sheikh Hussein of Mecca – from the Hashemid dynasty. The flag of the Hejaz served as a model. The colours have the following meanings: red is the colour of Omar, the second caliph; white stands for the Umayyads, a dynasty of caliphs that goes back to the fifth caliph Moawiya I.; green stands for the Fatimids, an Ismaili-Shiite dynasty of caliphs that goes back to the fourth caliph Ali; and black stands for the Abbasids, a dynasty of caliphs that goes back to the caliph Abbas I. Red is also the colour of the Hashemids, an Arab ruling dynasty that probably goes back to Hashem ibn Abd al-Manaf, the grandfather of Muhammad.

Source: Flags of the World, Die Welt der Flaggen, Flaggen Wappen Hymnen, Volker Preuß

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Coat of Arms

Wappen coat of arms Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
since 1980,
Coat of arms of Syria,
Source: Corel Draw 4


Wappen coat of arms Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
1972–1980,
Coat of arms of Syria,
Source: Corel Draw 4

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Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

The today's coat of arms of Syria was introduced on 17th of June in 1980, but its basic form had already been adopted as the country's coat of arms in 1932. The golden falcon is the emblem of the Kuraish tribe, from which the prophet Mohammed came. The shield on the falcon's chest was usually modified to reflect the current flag. The banner underneath always bore the name of the country. Only in the period of the United Arab Republic (1958–1961) was a different coat of arms used, which was similar but showed Saladin's eagle.

Source: Wikipedia (DE), Die Welt der Flaggen, Flaggen Wappen Hymnen, Volker Preuß

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Aircraft Roundel

Flugzeugkokarde Kokarde aircraft roundel Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
since 1972,
Aircraft Roundel,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)


Flugzeugkokarde Kokarde aircraft roundel Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
1963–1972,
Aircraft Roundel,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)


Flugzeugkokarde Kokarde aircraft roundel Syrien Syria Syrienne Suriyah
1948–1958,
Aircraft Roundel,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)

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Map

Location:

Source: CIA World Factbook

Map of the country:

Source: CIA World Factbook

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Numbers and Facts

Area: 71.498 square miles

Inhabitants: 22.100.000 (2022), thereof 89 % Arabs, 9 % Kurds, 1 % Armenians, Circassians, Turkomans, Turks

Religions: 74 % Sunni Muslims, 12 % Alawites, 10 % Christian, 2 % Shia Muslims, 2 % Druze

Density of Population: 309 inh./sq.mi.

Capital: Damaskus (arab. Dimashq), 1.834.741 inh. (2010)

official Language: Arabic

other Languages: Syrian Arabic, Curdish Languages, Armenian, Syrian, Turkoman, Circassian, French, English, Russian

Currency: 1 Syrian Lira / Pound (SYP, £S, syr£) = 100 Piastres (Qurusch)

Time Zone: GMT + 3 h

Source: Wikipedia (D)

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History

4th millenary B.C. · settlement by Kanaanitans and Hurrits

2nd millenary B.C. · settlement by Arameans

end of 2nd millenary B.C. · part of Assyria

539 B.C. · to Persia

333 B.C. · to the Empire of Alexander the Great

300 B.C. · center of the Empire of the Seleukids

63 B.C. · to the Roman Empire

395 A.D. · to the East Roman Empire (Byzantium)

635–637 · conquest by the Arabs, Islamization

ca. 945–1000 · to the Empire of the Hamdanids

1076 · conquest by the Selchuks, later to the Empire of the Fatimids (Egypt)

1099–1291 · partial under the rule of the crusaders (Principality of Antiochia, County Tripolis, Kingdom of Yerusalem)

1303–1260 · part of the Empire of the Mongols

1260 · conquest by the Mamluks (Egypt)

1516–1918 · part of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey)

1914–1918 · First World War, conquest by British and Arabian troops in the year 1918

1919 · withdrawal of the British troops, occupation by French troops

1920 · proclamation of the Hashemit Kingdom of Syria by Faisal I., subjection by French troops, Syria becomes a French mandate territory of the League of Nations

1926 · excorporation of Libanon as an own republic

1936 · planed independence is not granted

1939 · ceding of Alexandrette (Iskenderun) to the Turkey

1939–1945 · Second World War, British and "free" French troops occupy the country in 1941

1941 · formal independence

17th of April 1946 · withdrawal of the French troops, full independence from France

1958 · union with Egypt to the United Arabian Republic (UAR)

1961 · military coup d’état, end of the United Arabian Republic

1963 · elections, the Baath Party comes to the power

1967 · Six Days War against Israel, Israel occupies the Syrian Golan Heights

1970 · takeover by General Hafiz al-Assad

1973 · new constitution, democratic, socialistic, sovereign people's state

October 1973 · attack of Syria and Egypt against Israel, Israeli troops invade Syria partially

1976 · intervention of Syria in the Lebanese civil war, Syrian troops occupy large parts of Lebanon

1991 · 2nd Gulf War, Syria supports the USA

10th of June 2000 · death of Hafiz al-Assad

10th of July 2000 · Bashar al-Assad, the son von Hafiz al-Assad, becomes elected to president

2005 · the Syrian troops leave Lebanon

since 2011 · civil war (initially in 2011 radical Islamic protests, from 2012 invasion of the Islamic State, from 2014 recaptures by the Syrian government and Kurds, including Kurdish expansion, from 2015 invasion by Turkey in the north, the Syrian government asks Russia for help, the Islamic State is destroyed, the Kurds occupy the conquered areas or administer them together with the Syrian government, the radical Islamic forces are isolated in the northwest (Idlib), Turkey occupies areas in the north)

17th of March in 2016 · the Kurds proclaim in Northern Syria the Autonomous Region of "Rojava" (Syrian Kurdistan, West Kurdistan)

Source: Atlas zur Geschichte, Wikipedia (D), Discovery '97, Weltgeschichte

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Origin of the Country's Name

The name "Syria" has old Greek roots, as the area of the today’s Syria belonged to Assyria (State of Assur). Assyria is in Assyrian language "Ashshur", possibly a hint to the Arabian name of that geographic region "Bilad Ash-Sham".

Source: Volker Preuß

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