About Us
The Emblem
It depicts the theodolite, triangle, protractor and compass as basic measuring instruments, the owl as a symbol of knowledge, and Greece on a geographical sphere symbolizing the cartographic responsibility of the Service
The two laurel branches symbolize the struggles of the HMGS for the Homeland and the Nation, as well as the fallen of the Service, in all the battlefields where the Greek Army fought
At the top of the composition, the Service's motto is inscribed, Plato's famous phrase "God always geometrizes" which demonstrates the importance of cartography for man and serves as a mnemonic rule, since the number of letters indicates the corresponding digit of the number π, with an approximation of 5 decimal digits (3.14159)
Αεί = 3, ο = 1, Θεός = 4, ο =1, μέγας = 5, γεωμετρεί = 9
Institutional Framework
The organization and operation of the HMGS are governed by its founding law in PD 1013/1971 (Government Gazette 204 A) "On the Reorganization of the Army Geographical Service", Article 13 of which was replaced by Article 11 of Law 3257/2004 "Regulations on Personnel Matters of the Armed Forces and Other Provisions"
The HMGS is a Unit of the Geographical Corps, financially independent, subordinate to the Directorate of the Corps of the Hellenic Army General Staff (HAGS), according to Law 2913/2001, Article 7, par 6
Mission of the GIS
According to PD 1013/71, the mission of the HMGS is:
- The execution of all geodetic, topographic, cartographic and geophysical works to meet the needs of the Armed Forces in Geographic Materials (G M)
- The publication and distribution of all kinds of maps required by the Armed Forces and the maintenance of necessary stocks
- The provision of any possible assistance to Public Services, Legal Entities under Public Law, the Geodetic and Geophysical Committee of the State, as well as the contribution to the compilation of the Country's Cadastre
- The monitoring of methods applied abroad for the execution of geodetic, topographic and cartographic works to complement and improve those of the HMGS
- The provision of G M to legal and natural persons
- Provision of geographic materials to Greek and Allied Forces within the framework of NATO.