One of the original Greek flags was the flag of Sacred Band and it was tricolour.
On the one side, there was the inscription “ΕΝ ΤΟΥΤΩ ΝΙΚΑ” (In this sign, conquer), the motto of the emperor and founder of the Byzantine Empire Constantine the Great, who is also portrayed in the flag with his mother Helena of Constantinople in the fashion of Greek Orthodox iconography.
On the other side, there was the picture of a phoenix regenerated from the flames and the inscription “ΕΚ ΤΗΣ ΚΟΝΕΩΣ ΜΟΥ ΑΝΑΓΕΝΝΩΜΑΙ” (From my ashes I am reborn). In paragraphs 11 and 12 of the military organization that was drafted by Alexander Ypsilantis, there was the following instruction about the flag: “The Greek flag both inland and naval army must be composed by three colours: white, red and black.
The white colour means the innocence of this operation against the tyrants; the black colour means our death for the country and freedom and the red colour means the independence of Greek people and their pleasure to fight for the country’s resurrection”.
Οn the photo the similarities of the old Greek flag and the current flag of Egypt
