Country and Flag Origins - Part E

It really is getting harder to think of some shi words to type into these introductions. I suppose I could tell you what I have planned for today, but it's mostly boring stuff involving a vacuum cleaner and maybe gardening implements, weather permitting. Oh, and trying to get as much of this blog written as I can.

Anyway, this episode deals with all the countries that start with an E, apparently the fifth letter of the alphabet, and the second vowel. But this blog isn't about orthography it is about etymology and vexillology. Incidentally, the etymology of vexillology is that it derives from two languages, Greek and Latin. -ology is from the Greek suffix, -logia meaning "to study" and Vexill- is from the Latin word Vexillum meaning a "Roman Military Standard". Amazing what you learn every day.

Enough procrastinating, and on with the main feature...

East Timor, or Timor Leste to it's friends, adopted the flag in 1975. The flag hasn't changed, but it's meaning has. Initially, the red stood for the spilled blood of the population, the yellow for traces of colonialism and the struggle for independence, the black for the four centuries of colonial oppression, and the white star for the hope of a better future. However, in 2002, a new constitution specified the meanings of the flag and they had changed slightly. Red is now a symbol of the struggle for national liberation, the yellow represents the wealth of the country, the black stands for obscurantism that must be overcome, and the white star is for peace and is known as "the light that guides". According to Wikipedia, obscurantism is the "practice of deliberately presenting information in an abstruce and imprecise manner that limits further inquiry and understanding of a subject"

The country name derives from it's location in the East of the island of Timor. However, it's not quite as simple as that. The name of the island of Timor derives from the Malay word timur which means "east". So, in actual fact, East Timor translates to "East East"

EAST TIMOR = EAST EAST

The flag of Ecuador was adopted in 1835, but with the addition of the coat of arms in 1860. The colours are indicative of the colours that were on the Gran Colombia flag from where many of the northern countries of South America originated. The colours were first used by the designer of the Gran Colombia flag, Venezuelan General Francisco de Miranda. He used the three primary colours after a conversation with Goethe in which he stated ""Your destiny is to create in your land a place where primary colours are not distorted.”. But, the background colours have some meaning apart from they are primary colours. Yellow symbolises the crops and fertile soil, Blue is for the ocean and skies, and the red is for the blood spilled by heroes in the fight for their country.

The name of the country is Spanish for "Equator". Quito, the capital, lies just 40km or 25miles from the Equator.

ECUADOR = EQUATOR

The Egyptian flag contains the three colours of the Arab Liberation flag and has been in use since the 1952 Egyptian Revolution. The red, as it seems always, represents the blood spilled in the fight against colonialism, the white for the purity of Egyptians' hearts, and the black symbolises how the darkness was overcome. The Egyptian Eagle of Saladin was added in 1984 to differentiate between other Arab nations that use the same colours on their flags.

The English name of Egypt has it's origins in ancient Greek, "Aígyptos". A prominent Ancient Greek historian, Strabo, postulated that the name comes from "Αἴγυπτος" (Aigýptios) that was a compound of "Aἰγαίου ὑπτίως" (Aegaeou huptiōs) which meant "Below the Aegean". Obviously relating to the country's location.

EGYPT = BELOW THE AEGEAN

The flag of El Salvador was adopted in 1912. The blue colour represents the sky and the oceans, the white symbolises peace and unity with the world.

The country was originally called just Salvador or the Republic of Salvador, but in 1915, the Legislative Assembly of the government voted on a name change to El Salvador. El Salvador is Spanish for "The Saviour", a reference to Jesus.

EL SALVADOR = THE SAVIOUR

This flag was first used in 1968, however, a different version was used during the rule of dictator Francisco Nguema, the current version was reintroduced after he was deposed. The green colour represents the natural resources and jungles of the country, the white stands for peace, and the red for, yup you guessed it, the blood shed by the fighters for independence. The blue triangle symbolises the sea around the country's islands, that are represented by the six yellow stars. The tree is a silk-cotton tree that is considered to be the place where a deal was struck between Europeans and a local leader that started colonial rule.

Despite it's name, Equatorial Guinea is not on the Equator, this passes just south in Gabon, however, it is within the equatorial area and also part of what was called the region of Guinea, that encompassed much of the central west of Africa alongside the Gulf of Guinea. Guinea and Guinea-Bissau are also in that area. The country of Equatorial Guinea is named after its location.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA = LOCATED IN THE EQUATORIAL AREA OF THE REGION OF GUINEA

Eritrea's flag comprises the basic layout of the flag of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front, but with a different symbol. The green represents the agriculture and livestock of the country, the blue stands for the bounty of the sea, and the red, obviously, the bloodshed in the struggle for independence. The symbol within the red triangle is a wreath of thirty leaves, symbolising the thirty years of the struggle for independence, surrounding an olive branch that stands for peace.

The country's name comes from the Greek name for the Red Sea, the Erythraean Sea, whose name in Greek is derived from erythros meaning "red". The name was first applied in 1890 with the formation of Italian Eritrea. The name remained through British and Ethiopian occupation and was reaffirmed in the 1993 independence referendum.

ERITREA = RED

The national flag of Estonia has the name of the Sinimustvalge in Estonian. It means literally "blue-black-white". Originally adopted in 1918, it was reintroduced following the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991. An interpretation of the symbolism states that the blue colour represents the sky above Estonia's people, the black symbolises the soil of their homeland, and the white for purity, hard work, and commitment. There is a movement within Estonia to change the flag to a Nordic style with the cross similar to Scandinavian countries, to represent the country's connection to the Nordic countries.

The origin of Estonia can be traced back to Roman historian, Tacitus, who in 98 AD mentioned the Aesti people.  The Aesti people lived on the shores of the Baltic Sea. There are also references in Viking sagas to Eistland in the same area.

ESTONIA = LAND OF THE AESTI

The flag of Eswatini was adopted in 1968 when the country, then known as Swaziland, gained independence from Britain. The flag remained unchanged when the country changed it's name in 2018. The blue of the flag represents peace and stability, the yellow stands for the resources of the country, and the red symbolises past battles. The central design depicts an ox hide shield and spears representing protection from the country's enemies. The black and white colour of the shield is meant to show that black and white people live in harmony within Eswatini. There are three bunches of feathers from the widowbird and lore that are used only by the king on his ceremonial staff and shield.

The country and it's people, the Swazi, take their name from King Mswati II, who ruled in the 19th century and was the leader that expanded and unified the country during the "Scramble for Africa" amongst occupying empires. In 2018, Mswati III changed the name from Swaziland on the 50th anniversary of the nation's independence. It was also partially to avoid confusion with Switzerland. Eswatini is simply a Swazi translation of Swaziland.

ESWATINI = LAND OF THE SWAZIS

The green, yellow, and red colours of the Ethiopian flag have held symbolic importance since the 17th century, hence their use in many African flags. They are the colours of the Pan-Africa movement. The green represents labour, development and fertility, the yellow stands for hope, and the red for the blood spilled in defence of Ethiopia. The blue disc represents peace, The yellow star testifies to Ethiopia's bright future, whilst the equidistant rays signify the equality of all people in Ethiopia regardless of sex, race or creed.

The name of Ethiopia is said to traditionally come from the name of it's first king, King Ethiopis, who is thought to have been the twelfth direct descendant of Adam, and a grandson of Noah. Although, some scholars believe it may have come from a Greek phrase that was used to refer to all people south of the Sahara desert. It was also used as a vague term for "dark-skinned people" since at least the 8th century BC.

ETHIOPIA = NAMED AFTER KING ETHIOPIS or SUB-SAHARAN PEOPLE

Well, good to end on a controversy I feel.

Next up we have another short one, the countries beginning with the letter F are only four in number. And that's only because I added the Federated States of Micronesia to it instead of in M, which, frankly, at seventeen entries without FSM is already too long for one blog. But that's for another day.

You may have noticed a slight change to some of the entries, in that I included a picture of the coat of arms that are depicted on some of the countries flags. I thought this would be better on your eyes instead of squinting at a small image, and illustrate the writing as well. I like the scene on Ecuador's flag, I wonder if it is a real place or just a symbolic representation?