The Hymn to Freedom (Ύμνος πρός τήν ελευθηριάν) is a poem written by Dionýsios Solomós in 1823 that consists of 158 stanzas. The music was composed by Nikólaos Mantzáros, and in 1865 the first two verses officially became the Greek national anthem. It continues to be used as the national anthem of Cyprus, although this would have been replaced by a new anthem, without words, unique to Cyprus, under the Annan Plan (rejected by Greek Cypriots on April 24, 2004).
Lyrics
Greek original
-
- τοῦ σπαθιοῦ τὴν τρομερή.
- Σὲ γνωρίζω ἀπὸ τὴν ὄψη
- ποὺ μὲ βιὰ μετράει τὴ γῆ.
- Ἀπ’ τὰ κόκκαλα βγαλμένη
- τῶν Ἑλλήνων τὰ ἱερὰ
- καὶ σὰν πρῶτα ἀντρειωμένη
- χαῖρε, ὦ χαῖρ’ ἐλευθεριά.
Transliteration
- Sé gnorízo apó tḗn kópsē
- toú spathioú tḗn tromerḗ.
- Sé gnorízo apó tḗn ópsē
- poú mé biá metráei tḗ gḗ.
- Ap’ tá kókkala bgalmḗnē
- tṓn Hellḗnōn tá hierá
- kaí sán prṓta antreiōmḗnē
- chaíre, ṓ chaír’ eleutheriá.
Modern transcription
- Se gnorizo apo tin kopsi
- tu spathiu tin tromeri.
- Se gnorizo apo tin opsi
- pu me via metrai ti gi.
- Ap ta kokkala vgalmeni
- ton Ellinon ta iera
- kai san prota antriomeni
- chaire, o chair' eleftheria.
English translation
- I shall always recognise you
- By the magnificent sword you hold,
- As the earth, with searching vision,
- You survey, with spirit bold.
- Twas the Greeks of old whose dying
- Brought to birth our spirit free.
- Now, with ancient valour rising,
- Let us hail you, oh Liberty!
- We knew thee of old,
- Oh, 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!
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