The national anthem of Greece is called: « Hymn to Liberty ».
Continent: Europe
Bordering Countries:
– 🇦🇱 Albania
– 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
– 🇲🇰 North Macedonia
– 🇹🇷 Turkey
History of « Hymn to Liberty »
« Hymn to Liberty » (Greek: « Ύμνος εις την Ελευθερίαν ») is the national anthem of Greece. The anthem reflects the country’s struggle for independence and its enduring spirit of freedom and national pride.
Key Dates and People
- 1823: The lyrics of « Hymn to Liberty » were written by Dionysios Solomos, a Greek poet, during the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire.
- 1828: The music for the anthem was composed by Nikolaos Mantzaros, a Greek composer and conductor.
- 1865: « Hymn to Liberty » was officially adopted as the national anthem of Greece, recognizing its significance in the country’s fight for independence.
Anecdotes
- Lengthy Poem: The original poem by Dionysios Solomos consists of 158 stanzas, making it one of the longest national anthems in the world. However, only the first two stanzas are typically sung.
- Shared Anthem: « Hymn to Liberty » is also the national anthem of Cyprus, reflecting the close cultural and historical ties between the two nations.
- Symbol of Independence: The anthem was written during a pivotal time in Greek history, capturing the spirit of the Greek War of Independence. It has since become a powerful symbol of Greek national identity and pride.
Lyrics Excerpt
In Greek
Σε γνωρίζω από την κόψη
του σπαθιού την τρομερή,
σε γνωρίζω από την όψη
που με βία μετράει τη γη.
Απ' τα κόκκαλα βγαλμένη
των Ελλήνων τα ιερά
και σαν πρώτα ανδρειωμένη,
χαίρε, ω χαίρε, Ελευθεριά!In English (translation)
I recognize you by the fearsome
sharpness of your sword,
I recognize you by the gleam
in your eye as you survey the earth.
From the sacred bones
of the Hellenes arisen,
and valiant as in the olden days,
hail, oh hail, Liberty!Sources: