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 It continues to be used as the national anthem of Cyprus, although this would have been replaced by a new anthem, without words, unique to Cyprus, under the Annan Plan (rejected by Greek Cypriots on April 24, 2004).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

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)