‘Hymn to Liberty’: How Dionysios Solomos wrote Greece’s national anthem

·

When you think of Greek national pride, the things that come to mind are both the Greek flag and the national anthem. Rich in symbolism and reminders of what the Greek people had to go through to gain their freedom, this anthem represents what modern-day Greece is all about.

Officially titled “Ýmnos is tin Eleftherían in Greek and the “Hymn to Liberty” or the “Hymn to Freedom” in English, this song is a reminder of not only how far Greece has come since the Ottoman Empire was officially defeated, but also of the journey that people took which ultimately led to their freedom.

Here’s a look at the history and biographical details of the iconic Greek national anthem.

Writing the ‘Hymn to Liberty’:

The Hymn to Liberty was written by 25-year-old Dionysios Solomos.

The Hymn to Liberty was written by 25-year-old Dionysios Solomos in Zakynthos in May 1823, at a time of great upheaval for the Greek Revolution.

His poem consists of 158 quatrains. The measure is trochaic with alternations of seven-syllable and eight-syllable verses. It is written in the Heptanese Style of poetry that originated from the Heptanese School of Literature, or literally the Literature School of the Seven Islands.

Here are some of the lyrics:

Σε γνωρίζω από την κόψη.    
Του σπαθιού την τρομερή,     
Σε γνωρίζω από την όψη,      
Που με βιά μετράει τη γη.     

Απ’ τα κόκκαλα βγαλμένη.  
Των Ελλήνων τα ιερά,            
Και σαν πρώτα ανδρειωμένη,
Χαίρε, ω χαίρε, ελευθεριά!    

The National Anthem of Greece:

Greece National Anthem at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

Between 1828 and 1830, the Hymn to Liberty was set to music by the famous composer Nikolaos Mantzaros and was heard with enthusiasm at national holidays in the Ionian Islands. 

In December 1844, Mantzaros presented a new composition of the poem and submitted it to King Otto, hoping for it to become the “national song” of the country. The work was accepted only as a composition and awarded the Silver Cross of the Order of the Saviour.

But in 1865, during his visit to Corfu, King George I heard a version of Mantzaros’ composition by the band of the Corfu Philharmonic Society and it made an impression on him. This was followed by the Royal Decree of August 4, 1865, which characterised the poem as an “official national anthem” and was to be performed “by all the naval units of the Royal Navy.” 

Since then, the Hymn to Liberty by Dionysios Solomos, set to music by Nikolaos Mantzaros, has been considered the national anthem of Greece. 

From November 18, 1966 with the decision 6133 of the Council of Ministers, it was established as the national anthem of the Republic of Cyprus as well.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Step into the world of mental health with Georgia Cassimatis’ latest book

Greek Australian author and journalist, Georgia Cassimatis, has released a book all about exploring the world of mental health.

GOCNSW Welfare Service to put a spotlight on cyber security awareness

The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW’s (GOCNSW) Welfare Service has organised three Cyber Security Awareness education and training workshops.

Marriage of a Greek woman abroad: What to watch out for

It is during this registration process that numerous problems arise, which are not dealt with immediately but later on.

Athena Competition Greek winners show olive oil diversity

By Lisa Radinovsky from Greek Liquid Gold. At the 10th anniversary edition of the ATHENA International Olive Oil Competition in Chania, Crete, Greece in May, 175 Greek olive oils...

Greece’s island communities face population crisis

The demographic decline in Greece is hitting its islands hard, with Lemnos and Agios Efstratios showing alarming signs of aging populations.

You May Also Like

Aussie Olympian Tom Craig released from jail after cocaine arrest in Paris

Australian hockey player Tom Craig fled from police during his arrest for buying a gram of cocaine on the streets of Paris before giving up.

Ambitious new budget revealed for Greece, tax cuts in 2020

Greece is aiming for higher investment and tax cuts to assist with economic growth in 2020 as the country recovers from a decade-long debt...

Biden expresses optimism for Cyprus solution during meeting with Christodoulides

US President Joe Biden expressed optimism regarding a resolution to the Cyprus issue during a meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides.