Island group off the west coast of Greece; area 860 sq km/332 sq mi; population (2001) 209,600. A British protectorate from 1815 until their cession to Greece in 1864, they include Cephalonia (Greek Kefallonia); Corfu (Kérkyra), a Venetian possession (13861797); Cythera (Kithira); Ithaca (Ithaki), the traditional home of Odysseus; Lefkada; Paxos (Paxoí); and Zanté (Zakynthos).
Black represents the occupation of foreigners, red represents the blood of freedom fighters, and green denotes Islam. In the middle of the flag is a mehrab, an arch in a mosque where the congregation stands, and a mender, a pulpit in a mosque. The mehrab and mender are both in white, and are enclosed by wheat. Effective date: 5 February 2002.