The flag of Crete contains first of all the Greek symbolism of the white cross on blue ground and reminds of the Greek cross-flag. But in the upper quadrant it has a red field with a white star, distantly reminding of the Turkish flag (the island stood nominally under Turkish supremacy until 1908), naturally deleting the Islamic crescent, and only the white star remained as symbol of freedom and independence (1898-1913).
Structure and design of the coat of arms of the State of Crete was very much based on the coat of arms of Greece at that time. The shield shows the Greek symbolism in form of the white cross on a blue background. The upper corner, however, shows a red field with a white star, which is remotely reminiscent of the Turkish flag (the island was de facto under Turkish sovereignty until 1908), although the Islamic crescent was of course omitted and only the white star remained as a symbol of freedom and independence.
The name of the island was already "Krete" in ancient times and even in ancient Greece the origin of the name was actually unknown and there were attempts to explain the origin of the name mostly mythologically.
