![[Flag of Iranian Empire]](../images/i/ir_39.gif)
image by Željko Heimer
Last modified: 2023-07-22 by ian macdonald
Keywords: lion (yellow) | sun (yellow) | sword (yellow) | pahlavi | state flag | naval ensign | civil ensign | jack | masthead pennant |
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image by Željko Heimer
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The national flag and civil ensign is shown on Flaggenbuch [neu92] as an horizontal triband green-white-red with proportion 1:3. The proportion of the 1951 National Geographic [geo51] illustration is slightly less than 1:3 (about 4:11) but Pedersen [ped71] says that the 1:3 ratio and brighter shades were fixed in 1933.
Željko Heimer, 13 April 1997
According to Smith [smi75c], the basic tricolor dates from the Constitution of 14 August 1905, with artistic alterations in 1912, 1933, and ca. 1964. The national flag, the war ensign and the service flag are shown by Smith in 1975 with proportion 4:7. From the chronology, this change most probably occurred ca. 1964.
Ivan Sache, 16 October 1999
![[State flag]](../images/i/ir_s39.gif)
image by
Željko Heimer
National flag with golden lion and sun in the middle.
Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92]
Željko Heimer, 14 November 2001
![[Iran naval ensign]](../images/i/ir~39w.gif)
image by Željko Heimer
National flag with golden emblem in the middle - lion and sun within wreath and topped with crown.
Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92]
Željko Heimer, 14 November 2001
The best-known symbol of Iran in recent centuries, however, has been the lion and sun motif, which is probably a graphic expression of the astrological configuration of the sun in the sign of Leo, although both celestial and animal figures independently have a long history in Iranian heraldry. The lion and sun emblem is very ancient, and Ferdowsi our epic poet writes that it was used by Rostam, the legendary national hero. Late in the nineteenth century an earlier scimitar motif was combined with the lion and sun and superimposed on a tricolour of green, white and red, and, with minor modifications, this remained the official flag until the revolution of1979.
The green stripe is said to represent growth and prosperity, and is the colour associated with the Prophet's family, the white peace, and the red the willingness of every Iranian to shed his blood for his country.
From Fahra Pahlavi's website, quoted by Santiago Tazon, 13 June 2001
The "Marine Impériale: Album des Drapeaux et
des Enseignes" lists this flag as the "war flag", and whilst (in one sense) this term
is interchangeable with "naval ensign" in this instance the Album says that it is also for
use by the military over fortresses etc (so it is a "war flag" rather than
simply a "naval ensign").
Christopher Southworth, 24 February 2008
![[Iranian Jack]](../images/i/ir~39jck.gif)
image by Željko Heimer
Green square flag with the same emblem as on the naval ensign.
Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92]
Željko Heimer, 18 November 2001
![[Iranian masthead pennant]](../images/i/ir~39wp.gif)
by image by Željko
Heimer
Trapezoidal tricolour pennant (width at fly:1/3 hoist) with the
same emblem as on the naval ensign.
Minimal ratio was 1:5, but a longer pennant was used for larger
ships.
Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92]
Željko Heimer, 18 November 2001
![[Iranian royal standard]](../images/i/ir_shah1925.jpg)
image located by William
Garrison, 28 April 2018
In the photo, near the right shoulder of the Persian emperor, c, April 1926,
appears to be the royal flag. It is very impressive looking. Reza Shah Pahlavi,
the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty, is seen at his coronation in Tehran, Iran,
April 25, 1926.
Source:
https://www.al-monitor.com
Bill Garrison, 28 April 2018
![[Iranian royal standard]](../images/i/ir_shah1925b.jpg)
image located by William
Garrison, 12 June 2023
This is a colorized version of the flag from
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/307933693267039850/.
Original caption:
"The Coronation of H.I.M. Reza Shah Pahlavi, The Great, The Founder of The
Pahlavi Dynasty and The Father of The Modern Iran, 1925-1941"
William
Garrison, 12 June 2023
There is some speculation that this flag photograph is a fake; the original
showed a far less elaborate flag, that was later drawn in to make this
magnificent version.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 12 June 2023
