By the term Cretan weapons, we mean those weapons made entirely in Crete, such as the Cretan knife, the Cretan yatagan (short sabre) and the cudgel-cum-swords (spathorávdia), or assembled on the island from imported parts that were combined with local ones and have a specific Cretan design, such as Cretan pistols, Cretan rifles and some of the Cretan yatagans.
The creation of these weapons is related directly to the conditions prevailing on Crete during the period of Ottoman rule.
One of the largest preserved ‘military ensigns’ (2.10 x 1.10 m), the flag is handmade of woollen cloth. Sewn onto the four blue ends of it are the initials of the slogan of the revolution, K.E.E.Θ. (CRETE-HELLAS-UNION or DEATH), in capital letters, while in the middle is the sign of the Cross, embroidered on either side of which are the initials of the words Jesus Christ Conquers (IC XC).
The embroidered capital letters (D.S.) below indicate that the ensign belonged to the unit led by Dimitrios Sakorrafos from Roustika, son of Georgios Sakorrafos, commander of the freedom-fighters in the area during the Greek War of Independence in 1821. The flag is slashed in places and is riddled with holes from Turkish bullets. This rare heirloom was preserved by Captain Antonios Vlatakis from Melambes and, after his death, by Eleni Mystraki-Doukaki. It was carried in the revolts of 1866-1869, 1878, 1889 & 1897, witnessing the fierce battles fought in the mountainous areas of Agios Vasileios and neighbouring provinces.
