The today's flag of Ethiopia shows three horizontal stripes in green, yellow and red. In the center – above all – the coat of arms of the state, a blue disk with a thereupon lying down yellow pentagram. The green stands for the work and the fruitfulness of the land, the yellow for patriotism and justice, and red stands for bravery and the in the struggles for indpendence given blood.
The colors are also interpreted in a Christian way as a symbol of the Christian Trinity: Green stands for Holy Spirit, yellow stands for God the Father, and red for the son. The colors are also associated with Christian virtues. Green in this way hope, yellow represents charity and red stands for the faith.
The flag of Ethiopia was hoisted up for the first time – in inverted sequence of colors – in the year 1897. The colors of the flag have their roots in the trimming of the throne hall of emperor Menelik II. (1889–1913) with little pennants in this colors. From 1935 till 1941 Ethiopia was an Italian colony, and has not an own flag. After the retreat of the Italians follows the reintroduction, this time in the today usual sequence of the colors. In this form the flag stays unchanged, irrespective of the diverse coats of arms in the middle of the state flag, and is in the today's form official since the 6th of February in 1996.
The colors of the flag are even known as the "Panafrican colors": Perhaps in 1900 was the beginning of the Panafrica-Movement, wich wants to emphasize the commons of all people with black skin. The colour-triad green-yellow-red, wich used many african and even american countries in their flags after the independence, stands for the political unity of Africa, of all black People. The first country was Ghana in 1957. As the origin apply the colours of Ethiopia (Abessinia), the oldest independent state in Africa.
The Emperor’s flag, featured, like the national flag, three horizontal stripes in green, yellow and red, with a symbol in each corner combining a Star of David with a small Latin cross. In the centre of the flag, as on the national flag, appeared the Lion of Judah, but within a circle of 32 segments, each containing a Star of David with a cross. Above it appeared the motto: ሞአ፡አንበሣ፡ዘእምነገደ፡ይሁዳ (Mo’a Anbessa Ze’imnegede Yehuda – The Victorious Lion of the Tribe of Judah), the official, traditional, religious-political title of the Solomonic dynasty. The reverse side features a different image in the centre of the flag instead of the Lion of Judah: Saint George slaying the dragon. The motto above the circle reads: ኃይል፡ኮከብ፡ክብር፡፡ (Hayl:Kokäb:Kebr – Strength–Star–Glory), a three-part formula typical of Ethiopian Orthodox and Ethiopian imperial symbolism.
As coat of arms of the state Ethiopia was in use since older times the so named lion of Juda. That is probably borrowed from the Armenian lion and gets assumed. The lion of Juda was already in the middle ages valid as the scutcheon animal of the legendary priest Johannes. With the end of the monarchy was introduced a new coat of arms in 1975. It showed a large sun and a cogwheel (industry) on a blue disk, in front a plow (agriculture). This all was bordered with two oil-twigs. On this point, where both oil-twigs are crossing, appeared a medallion with the depiction of the lion of Juda.
With the acceptance of a new constitution was introduced a new coat of arms in 1987. This showed a depiction of the obelisk of Aksum, a large cogwheel, and a circular shield with behind situated arms, above that a red star. The coat of arms was surrounded by oil-twigs and palm tree fronds.
With the acceptance of a new constitution as federative democratic republic was introduced a new coat of arms on 6th of february in 1996, together with the resolution to use this on the national flag. It shows a blue disk with the golden depiction of a pentagram, the seal of Salomo. Between the five jags of the pentagram appear trapezoid beams. This symbol should shows the equality of all nationalities and religions by his regular construction, and at the same time portray the unity of the residents of Ethiopia. The golden beams stand for the future of the land.
From around 3 million years ago · Earliest hominids (including Lucy and Selam) in present-day Ethiopia
From the 1st millennium BC · Emergence of early states in the north
1st–7th centuries AD · The Aksumite Empire, one of the great empires of late antiquity; early Christianisation (4th century)
7th–13th centuries · Isolation of Ethiopian Christianity due to Islamic Expansion
13th to 18th cent. · first empire
from the 14th century · Closer contacts with Europe; attempts to form alliances against Muslim sultanates
1543 · Portuguese troops assist Ethiopia against the Sultanate of Adal
1855 · second empire
1868 · British expedition to Ethiopia against Emperor Tewodros II
Late 19th century · Italian colonial ambitions
1896 · Battle of Adwa: Ethiopia defeats Italy and remains independent (alongside Liberia, the only non-colonised state in Africa)
1931 · First constitution
1935–1941 · Italian invasion and occupation (War of Abyssinia), widespread use of poison gas, Ethiopia becomes an Italian colony, though Italy’s sphere of influence is limited
1941 · Liberation by British and Ethiopian troops; return of Haile Selassie
1955 · Introduction of women’s suffrage
1973–1974 · Economic crisis, drought, unrest
1974 · Overthrow of Haile Selassie, end of the monarchy, end of the Solomonic dynasty
1974–1991 · Socialist military regime (Derg) under Mengistu Haile Mariam
The name of the country goes back to the ancient Greek name "aithiops", which means "burnt face", and referred to the dark-skinned inhabitants of Africa.
