Flag of Albania

Aspect Ratio 5:7

The current flag of Albania was adopted in 1992. The double-headed eagle represents Albania, though it was borrowed from the banner of the Byzantine Empire. The red background stands for bravery, strength, and valor. During the Middle Ages the design became famous when the House of Kastrioti lead a revolt against the Ottoman Empire, establishing the League of Lezhë from 1443-1479, effectively the first independent Albanian state. Later in the 19th century during the Albanian National Awakening the design was adopted by Albanian rebels. Since then the flag has undergone many variations but all have been based the double-headed eagle and red background.

Axe head decorated with a double-headed eagles figure.

Flag of the Russian-American Company.

Note the double-headed eagle, symbolising empire.

Medieval Serbian signet ring with engraved figure of Double-headed eagle and two Cyrilic letters, silver, 14th century, found in Serbia.

During 14th and 15th domestic and foreign master goldsmiths produced a large number of fine pieces of jewelry, especially rings, creating special Serbian style of the jewelry called "Serbian way". That style was mixture of Byzantine and Western European patterns modified by the local tradition.

Partly hidden by the mountains…

Once upon a time there used to be a very small village, all the way up in the North of Karpathos – one of the Greek Dhodhekanisos islands. The village was named Vroukounta and is also known as Vrykous. Its location wasn’t the most safe one after all the sea rovers kept on intruding the village. The inhabitants started looking for a more mountainous area to hide…