ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΥΜΝΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ - «ΥΜΝΟΣ ΕΙΣ ΤΗΝ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ» (EE’-MNOS EES TEEN EH-LEH-FTHEH-REE’A)
NATIONAL HYMN OF GREECE - “HYMN TO FREEDOM”
Σε γνωρίζω από την κόψη
του σπαθιού την τρομερή,
σε γνωρίζω από την όψη
που με βιά μετράει την γη.
Se gnorizo apo tin kopsi
tou spathiou tin tromeri,
se gnorízo apo tin opsi,
pou me via metrai tin gi.
Απ’ τα κόκκαλα βγαλμένη
των Ελλήνων τα ιερά,
και σαν πρώτα ανδρειωμένη,
χαίρε, ω χαίρε, Ελευθεριά!
και σαν πρώτα ανδρειωμένη,
χαίρε, ω χαίρε, Ελευθεριά!
και σαν πρώτα ανδρειωμένη,
χαίρε, ω χαίρε, Ελευθεριά!
Ap' ta kokkala vgalmeni
ton Ellinon ta iera,
kai san prota andriomeni,
chere, o chere, Eleftheria!
kai san prota andriomeni,
chere, o chere, Eleftheria!
kai san prota andriomeni,
chere, o chere, Eleftheria!
I recognize you by the sharpness,
of your fearsome sword,
I recognize you by the gleam (in your
eyes)
with which you rapidly survey the
earth.
From the sacred bones,
of the Hellenes arisen,
and strengthened by your antique
bravery, hail, o hail, Liberty!
and strengthened by your antique
bravery, hail, o hail, Liberty!
and strengthened by your antique
bravery, hail, o hail, Liberty!
English Translations
Literal
I recognize you by the sharpness,
of your fearsome sword,
I recognize you by the gleam (in your eyes)
with which you rapidly survey the earth.
From the sacred bones,
of the Hellenes arisen,
and strengthened by your antique bravery,
hail, o hail, Liberty!
Poetic
I shall always recognize you
by the dreadful sword you hold
as the Earth with searching vision
you survey with spirit bold
From the Greeks of old whose dying
brought to life and spirit free
now with ancient valour rising
let us hail you, oh Liberty!
By Rudyard Kipling (1918)
We knew thee of old,
O, divinely restored,
By the lights of thine eyes,
And the light of thy Sword.
From the graves of our slain,
Shall thy valour prevail,
As we greet thee again,
Hail, Liberty! Hail!
The Hymn to Liberty or Hymn to Freedom (Greek: Ὕμνος εἰς τὴν Ἐλευθερίαν, Ýmnos is tin Eleftherían) is a poem
written by Dionýsios Solomós in 1823 that consists of 158 stanzas, which is used as the national anthem of Greece. It
was set to music by Nikolaos Mantzaros, and is the longest national anthem in the world by length of text. On June
28th, 1865, the first three stanzas and later the first two officially became the national anthem of Greece and later also
that of the Republic of Cyprus. The decision concerning the National Anthem of the Republic of Cyprus was taken by
Council of Ministers on 16 November, 1966. According to this decision the music of the Greek National Anthem was
adopted as the National Anthem of Cyprus.
The hymn was set to music in 1865 by the Corfiot operatic composer Nikolaos Mantzaros, who composed two choral
versions, a long one for the whole poem and a short one for the first two stanzas; the latter is the one adopted as the
National Anthem of Greece.
This anthem has been performed at every closing ceremony of an Olympics, to pay tribute to Greece as the birthplace
of the ancient Olympic Games.