The Flag of the Republic of

Maldives Maldives (, ; dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ, translit=Dhivehi Raajje, ), officially the Republic of Maldives ( dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, translit=Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, label=none, ), is an archipelag ...

( dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖެގެ ދިދަ, , translit=Dhivehi Raajjeyge dhidha) is

green Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 Nanometre, nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by ...

with a

red Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondar ...

border. The center bears a vertical

white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

crescent A crescent shape (, ) is a symbol or emblem used to represent the lunar phase in the first quarter (the "sickle moon"), or by extension a symbol representing the Moon itself. In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is often shown wearing a crescent moon on his ...

; the closed side of the crescent is on the raising side of the flag. It was adopted on 25 July 1965. The

rectangle represents the blood of the nation's heroes, and their willingness to sacrifice their every drop of

blood Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the c ...

in defense of their country. The green rectangle in the center symbolizes peace and prosperity. The white crescent moon symbolizes the

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...

ic faith of the state and authorities. The colours are: * Red: PMS 186C, RGB (210, 16, 52), Hex #D21034 * Green: PMS 348C, RGB (0, 128, 58), Hex #00803A * White

History

The earliest flag of the Maldives consisted of a plain red field. Later, a

black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...

and

striped hoist called the ''Dhandimathi'' ( dv, ދަނޑިމަތި) was added to the flag. This version of the flag was used until early in the 20th century when Abdul Majeed Didi added a crescent to the national flag. At the same time, a distinct state flag was made, which had the crescent on a green rectangle. These changes were made sometime between 1926 and 1932, during Abdul Majeed's term as Prime Minister. In 1953, the Maldives became a republic, resulting in another flag change. The national flag was dropped and the crescent on the state flag was reversed so that it faced the hoist. The Sultanate was restored in 1954, but the flag was not changed back. Instead, Muhammad Fareed Didi created a new flag specifically for the Sultan, with a five-pointed star next to the crescent. A version of this flag is still used today as the Presidential Standard. When the Maldives gained independence from the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

in 1965, the black and white hoist was removed, giving the flag its modern form.

Gallery

File:Flag of the Maldives (pre-1903, alternative flag shape).svg, c.1117–1796 File:Earliest Flag of the Maldives.svg, 1796—1903 File:Flag of the Maldives until 1903.svg, 1903—1926 File:Old National Flag of the Maldives.svg, National flag, 1926—1953 File:Old State Flag of Maldives.svg, State flag, 1926—1953 File:Flag of the Maldives 1953.svg, 1953—1965 File:Flag of the Sultan of The Maldives.svg, Sultan's Standard with star, used from 1954 to 1965 File:Flag of the President of Maldives.svg, Sultan's Standard from 1965 to 1968 and

Presidential Standard The presidential standard or presidential flag is the flag that is used in many countries as a symbol of the head of state or president. In some countries it may be for exclusive use of the president or only raised where the president is present. An ...

since 1968. File:Flag of the United Suvadive Republic.svg, Flag used by the breakaway Suvadive Republic of the southern atolls (1959 to 1963).

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Flag Of Maldives National symbols of the Maldives