Cyprus Flag Meaning: Map, Copper Color & Olive Branches
The Republic of Cyprus flag has a white background with a copper-colored silhouette of the island above two crossed olive branches.
Why is there a map on the flag?
Cyprus is unusual among sovereign states because its national flag directly depicts the outline of the country.
Why is the map copper colored?
The Republic of Cyprus states that the copper color has two associations: the island’s name has long been linked with ancient words for copper, and Cyprus was historically a major producer and supplier of copper.
What do the olive branches mean?
The two crossed olive branches represent peace.
Why is the background white?
The white field reinforces the flag’s deliberately neutral and peaceful visual character. The original design was created for the new republic in 1960.
What are the official colors?
Current government specifications identify the island silhouette as copper Pantone 1385 C and the olive branches as green Pantone 574 C.
Who designed the flag?
The winning design was created by Turkish Cypriot artist İsmet Güney in the 1960 national competition.
How can you identify it?
Look for a white flag with an orange-copper island map and two crossed green olive branches directly below it.
