Hymn to Freedom

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 It continues to be used as the national anthem of Cyprus, although this would have been replaced by a new anthem, without words, unique to Cyprus, under the Annan Plan (rejected by Greek Cypriots on April 24, 2004).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

Σὲ γνωρίζω ἀπὸ τὴν κόψη

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 ἀνδρειωμένη

χαῖρε, ὦ χαῖρ' ἐλευθεριά.

Transliteration I

Sè ḡnôrízô apò tền kópsê

toỹ spaṭioỹ tền tromerế.

Sè ḡnôrízô apò tền ópsê

poỳ mè ḇià metráei tề ḡễ.

Ap' tà kókkala ḇḡalménê

tỗn Hellếnôn tà hierà

kaì sàn prỗta anḏreiôménê

ḳaĩre, ỗ ḳaĩr' eleyṭeriá.

Transliteration II (Modern)

Se ḡnorízo apó tin kópsi

toy spaṯioý tin tromerí.

Se ḡnorízo apó tin ópsi

poy me via metráei ti ḡi.

Ap' ta kókkala vḡalméni

ton Ellínon ta ierá

kai san próta anḏreioméni

ẖaíre, o ẖaír' eleyṯeriá.

Phonetic Transcription (I & II)

[sɛ ɣnoriˈzo apoˌ ti-g-oˈpsi

tu spaθçuˈ ti-d-romɛriˈ

sɛ ɣnoriˈzo apoˌ tin oˈpsi

pu mɛ vʝaˈ mɛtraˈɪ ti ɣiˈ

ˌap-ta koˈkala vɣalmeˈni

ton ɛliˈnon ta jɛraˈ

cɛ sa-b-roˈta anðrjɔmeˈni

çeˈrɛ, o çeˈr ɛlɛfθɛrʝaˈ]

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!

A different English translation by Rudyard Kipling (1918)

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!

External Links

• Listen to the Greek National Anthem
• Greek National Anthem (MIDI)