Flag of Orioni

Orioni

Name	Ilibati
Use	Civil and state flag
Proportion	3:2
Adopted	1175
Design	Two horizontal blue (top) and red bands charged with a white diamond shield at the canton

The national flag of Orioni (Orinese: Ilibati) is a symbol of the Orioni Empire that inherits a historical tradition of using national symbols and is an attribute of the imperial government and executive powers.

National flag

Colours

The flag features two horizontal blue (top) and red bands charged with a white diamond shield at the canton. As the colour of the sky and water, blue symbolizes calm, reflection, and intellect. It is also the infinite, and the void from which all life develops. Ground lapis lazuli produced a pigment highly prized in Orioni for decorating temple ceilings The colour signified divine favour. Red is the colour of life, of blood, fire, passion, and war. It is worn by brides in the Orient as a symbol of good luck and fertility. Orinese calendars marked holy days in red, hence red-letter days. But red is also the colour of danger and warning signs are often marked in red. White symbolizes purity and perfection, also the Absolute. It is the colour most associated with sacredness; sacrificial animals are often white. In the Occidental world brides usually wear white, but it is the colour of mourning in much of the Orient. Ghosts are thought to be white because it is a colour that conceals nothing. A white flag signals truce, and therefore peace.

Colour scheme	White	Blue	Red
Pantone	Safe	Blue 276	Red 1807
CMYK	0-0-0-0	99-100-0-60	0-100-100-34
RGB	255-255-255	1-0-103	169-0-0
Hex triplet	#FFFFFF	#010067	#A90000

Diamond

An encounter of Ivericans and Orinese

The diamond shape is an early Oharic representation of a heart or womb, dating from circa 3000 BCE. Large numbers of representational clay tablets have been unearthed in modern Andro and Sirius. Some 1500 different symbols have been decoded, most of them relating to agricultural and commercial matters. The most prized as well as the hardest stone, the diamond is also associated with incorruptibility and invincibility. Its transparency and purity make it also a symbol of constancy and sincerity. In heraldry, the diamond is called lozenge. A lozenge-shaped escutcheon is used to depict heraldry for a female, but is also sometimes used as a shape for mural monuments in churches which commemorate females. Traditionally very limited categories of females have been able to display their own arms, for example, a female monarch. This in contrast to the escutcheon or shield for men, which is in its origin an object of warfare. In some other cultures, the diamond is rounded to an almond-shape. Also known as the mandorla, the almond-shaped halo is formed from two intersecting circles It is used to symbolize the individual's ascension to heaven.

Tree

Coat of arms

Five-headed snake

The coat of arms is a shield with the image of a stylised cedar tree branch, Orioni's imperial symbol. Presence and position of the tree on the shield is directly inspired by the Orioni cedar (Cedrus orioni). The Cedar is a symbol of holiness, eternity and peace. The tree has symbolic significance in cultures throughout the world. A reverence for trees and even tree worship is widespread throughout the world. It represents the Great Mother in her nourishing, sheltering form. Many traditions speak of a tree of life: a tree that is the central point and pivot of the world. Rooted in the earth, it draws water from the ground and reaches up to the heavens and eternity, acting as a world axis. It is closely linked to the symbolism of the pillar and the mountain. As an emblem of longevity, the cedar of Orioni has its origin in many liturgical or apocryphal references.

Other, more adversarial nations this symbol came to hold a complete opposite, negative meaning. In early histories of the defeated Medani Empire, it was actually a symbol of conquest and subjugation. Medani sources describe it as an open hand. More specifically: the right hand of defeated enemies that was cut-off and paraded on the tip of a spear. While a hand usually signifies blessing, protection, and justice, to the Medanese it became a sign of bad luck. In Occidental nations, the symbol was deformed into a five-headed snake. The snake, or serpent, is probably the most widely revered of all creatures because it embodies so many forces. Its underground lair allies it with the underworld and it is associated with the primal waters from which all life was created. The serpent symbol was widespread in agricultural societies where it was used to poison and medicine. Following Tacolic liturgy, serpents are connected with lies, revenge and cruelty.

Variants

Flag	Use	Description
	Royal flag	Royal Standard of the Monarch of Orioni.
	Mourning flag	The Imperial Council is authorised to order the half-staffing of the national flag. When the Orinese monarchy dies a black ribbon is placed above the flag. When a foreign nation's head of state is buried the foreign Ministry also hoists the flag at half-staff.

Sub-national flags

Flag	Province	Description
	Andro	The chevron of Andro.
	Corona Borealis	Loyalist symbology from the civil war.
	Cygnus	Swan.
	Deseti
	Dion	The forest of mythical King Dion.
	Gruis	The tiger of Tigray (lion passant regardant).
	Kidusi	Stylised representation of Mount Silesto.
	Mar	The prestene and untouched nature of Amilaki.
	Meda	(solar portal)
	Niktal Makto	Mountains, mountains, and more mountains.
	Nordhaven	Raven from when Boreans settled the area.
	O'polis	The Triple Goddess symbol of the waxing, full and waning Mun, representing the female aspects of Maiden, Mother, and Crone.
	Oris	Stylised helmet of a Primahoris warrior.
	Perseus	A stylised tapestry with the head of a gorgon.
	Pontus	Six fishes of Bandas.
	Sirius	Rich agricultural history of Shiriyus.
	Tauri	Stylised representation of a bull.
	Vega	Five silver rays on a blue field.
	Zuidhaven	Representing the ancient port of Hierapolis.

Military flags

Flag	Date	Use
	1381-present	Flag of the Orioni army.
	Year-present	Flag of the Orioni navy.
	1915-present	Flag of the Orioni air force.

Historical flags

Flag	Date	Use
	Before 980 BCE	Pre-dynastic. Prior to 980 BCE, the Shiguti League did not use the flag associated with the later monarchies. The oldest and best-known symbol has been the Tree motif, which is a graphic expression of the typical vegetation.
	980 – 536 BCE	Queendom of Orioni. Azure field with imperial symbol in argent. The Queendom was centred around O'polis, where the lightblue flag provided adequate contrast with the green valleys.
	536 BCE – 1023 CE	First Empire of Orioni. A darker flag was introduced with better contrasting colour for sailing vessels. The azure blue had made it difficult to sea against a clear sky. Since maritime trade became ever important, this clearly visible flag stayed in use for a significant period of time.
	1023 – 1174	Civil War flag of the monarchy of Orioni in exile.
	1175 – present	Restored, second Empire of Orioni.

Colonial flags

Flag	Date	Use
	1754 – 1901	Former flag of Astrini island, present-day Niederoestereich.
	1370 – 1843	Former flag of the Baribeni islands, present-day Bainbridge Islands.
	1349 – 1822	Flag of Birlini, present-day Pirilao.
	1529 – 1955	Flag of Burkini island, northwest of the Sunset Sea Islands.
	1472 – 1908	Former flag of Daini island, present-day Damak Var.
	1634 – 1949	Flag of Rohini island, northeast of Orioni, in the North Oriental Ocean.
	1367 – 1847	Flag of Tahini island, present-day Malindi.
	1322 – 1781	Flag of Tamarini, present-day Tamurin.
	1499 – 1969	Flag of Thubani island, north of Orioni, in the Rosario Sea.
	1472 – 1693	Former flag of Yawini island, present-day Ayubi.