A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Possible Flags for the new Egyptian Republic, 1953

This may interest the Egypt hands. When, a little under a year after the 1952 coup, Egypt declared itself a republic, it was felt a new flag was needed to mark the new identity, replacing but perhaps incorporating the flag of the monarchical period (Right).

This is a reproduction of a page from "one of the Egyptian magazines" (not further identified) from the area, with some of the suggested designs:
 
Many of the designs are derived from the red-white-black tricolor that originated with the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans and was increasingly used for Arab flags; some combined it with he Royalty-era colors, not always successfully.

In the end, the first flag chosen for the Egyptian Republic was a simple Arab tricolor with no other decoration (left). Except for slight differences in shape, that flag is essentially identical with the one Yemen uses today.

Somewhat later it was decided to add the "Eagle of Saladin" (an earlier version of the eagle on today's flag) and the old royal emblem.
UAR Flag
This flag was superseded in 1958 by the two-starred flag of the United Arab Republic; then in the 1970s by the flag of the Federation of Arab Republics (with the Eagle of Qureish rather than the Eagle of Saladin), and finally in the 1980s by the current flag.
Federation Flag




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