Posted 6 years ago
Weandocin54
(99 items)
Just ran across this while I was cleaning. I bought it years ago and could never figure out the origin. Maybe someone out there knows.
Ashtray | ||
| Ashtrays279 of 1363 |  |  |
Ashtray | ||
| Ashtrays279 of 1363 | | |
Posted 6 years ago
Weandocin54
(99 items)
Just ran across this while I was cleaning. I bought it years ago and could never figure out the origin. Maybe someone out there knows.
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Greek. Rhodes I think.
? ??? ? ??? ??? - WITH IT OR ON IT .
Come back with your shield or be on it.
Ikaros Rhodes Pottery. Unfortunately CW STILL doesn’t accomodate the Greek alphabet .... therefore the ???????????
Greek elections were held in 1946 after WWII was over and Greece had been in a civil was.
The wreath, the sword may represent peace and war.
I hope someone can translate this!
Thank you for posting it. My dad was in Greece in 1946. I recently posted his uniform insignia he wore during the Allied Mission For Observing Greek Elections.
Thank you both, it’s very interesting.
A bit of online searching revealed the wreath, in Greek history, represented victory.
So, I’m refining my speculation that the 1946 date and symbols represented victory over the Axis powers and, thus, the removal of invaders from Greece. That year was a time of hope and relief that the wars were over for the Greek people!
I’ve never seen it commemorated on an ashtray but peace and victory had to be a hot topic at that time.
The Greek actually means “Either with it or on it.” “Come back with your shield, or on it.” This ancient Greek phrase, we're told by no less an authority than Plutarch, was an admonition given to Spartan warriors ...” Fight to the death.
The phrase can be seen as the motto of the II Army Corps (Greece) established in 1913 but reestablished in 1946. You can even see the Spartan shield and the phrase on their flag here : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/II_Army_Corps_(Greece)
Thank you Vetrai050 for sharing your knowledge. I find it very interesting, I love this ,I’ve learned so much from all of you. ThAnk You.
This flag is almost identical to the ashtrays'. But the dates don't match. Ouzo anyone?