El Salvador Flag
Flag of El Salvador
From a.d. 100
until 1000, El Salvador was part of the Mayan kingdom that built the huge
pyramids in the west of the country. Pipil Indians dominated the area
until the Spanish conquered it in 1525, Spain subsequently governing it
as part of Guatemala until 1821, when El Salvador was liberated. Having
joined the United Provinces of Central America in 1823, although it
seceded from the federation in 1838, El Salvador continued to use the
federation's flag until 1865. It then adopted a national flag loosely
based on the 'Stars and Stripes'.
Current El Salvador flag, which it adopted in 1912, is derived from the
original United Provinces' flag, but with the arms of El Salvador in the
center. The arms are based on a triangle (symbolizing equality) and
depict five volcanoes (representing the five provinces), a cap of liberty
and the date of liberation. Surrounding this triangle are the five blue
and white flags of the United Provinces within a wreath. The motto of
Central America, Dios, Union, Libertad ('God, Union, Liberty') appears
beneath. The whole is surrounded by the title of the state when it was
part of the United Provinces.
Note : El Salvador uses different variants of the flag for civil,
government and military use. A blue and white flag without the coat of
arms is the civil flag. With the arms, it is the state flag. A third
version, with blue and white stripes and the motto Dios Union, Libertad
written in yellow across the white stripe, is the governmental flag.
