Flag of the Ethiopian Empire

 

Flag of the Ethiopian Empire with the Lion of Judah (A symbol of the Solomonic dynasty dating back to medieval times), also known as the imperial flag (?–1936, 1941–1974). It remains popular with the Rastafari movement, Monarchists, and Ethiopian nationalists.

Colors

The colors of green, yellow and red were used for the flag of the Ethiopian Empire in 1914. On 11 October 1897, a year after Ethiopia decisively defeated the Kingdom of Italy at the Battle of Adwa, emperor Menelik II ordered the three pennants combined in a rectangular tricolour from top to bottom of red, yellow, and green with the first letter of his own name (the Amharic letter "ም") on the central stripe. The letter of Menelik's name was removed from the flag after his death in 1913. For unknown reasons, in 1914, the colour order was flipped- with green on top, red on the bottom, and the yellow remaining in place. The flag's tri-colour scheme has existed since the early 19th century, and the colours red, yellow, and green carried special importance prior to that. To commemorate its adoption in 1897, Ethiopia celebrates Flag Day on the first Monday of the month of Tikimt (September–October).

The royal flag often featured the emblem of a Lion of Judah, a crowned lion carrying a cross centered in the banner's yellow midsection. The flag is understood to be a link between the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the peoples, and the nation that was united. The processional cross carried by the lion was the former flag or symbol of Ethiopia and has likewise been in use since at least the early 17th century. Whilst red is currently featured at the bottom of the horizontal tricolour, this was reversed until the mid-19th century. What the colors symbolise varies depending on point of view. However, generally, red represents the blood spilled in defense of Ethiopia; yellow represents peace and harmony between Ethiopia's various ethnic and religious groups; and green is said to symbolise hope, or the land and its fertility.

Upon gaining independence from colonial rule, several newly-established countries in Africa adopted these three colors in homage to Ethiopia's resistance against foreign occupation. When adopted by Pan-Africanist polities and organisations for their activities, the colours are often referred to as the Pan-African colours.

Symbolism

  Green: "represents the richness and the fertility of our land as well as hope."

Yellow: "represents hope."

Red: "represents the sacrifice of our fathers, who spilled their blood in defense of Ethiopia."

I told you what my point of view was and what the colors symbolize :-).

Flag of Ethiopia