there are many theories about the origin of the color of the flag. one says that blue represents the color of the sea and the white represents the waves, and others include white for the waves and blue for the sky and white for purity and breaking away from tyranny, and blue for greece. there are nine stripes on the flag, which according to the legend represent the nine syllables in the phrase “ελευθερία ή θάνατος’’ which means “freedom or death.’’ the cross stands for christianity.