Hymn to Freedom

The Hymn to Freedom (Imnos pros tin Eleftherian) was written by Dionysios Solomos in 1823, and consists of 158 stanzas. Music was composed by Nikolaos Mantzaros, and in 1865 the first two verses officially became the Greek national anthem. It is also used as the national anthem of Cyprus.

With Greek characters:

Σε γνωρίζω από την κόψη,

του σπαθιού την τρομερή,

Σε γνωρίζω από την όψη,

που με βια μετρά[ει] τη[ν] γη.

Απ' τα κόκαλα βγαλμένη,

των Ελλήνων τα ιερά,

Και σαν πρώτα ανδρειωμένη [or -μένοι],

χαίρε, ω χαίρε Ελευθεριά.

The same text in a version for other browsers:

Σε γνωρίζω απó την κóψη,

τoυ σπαθιoύ την τρoμερή,

Σε γνωρίζω απó την óψη,

πoυ με βια μετρά[ει] τη[ν] γη.

Απ' τα κóκαλα βγαλμένη,

των Eλλήνων τα ιερά,

Kαι σαν πρώτα ανδρειωμένη [or -μένoι],

χαίρε, ω χαίρε Eλευθεριά.

Transcribed to Latin characters:

Se gnorízo apó tin kópsi,

tou spathioú tin tromerí,

Se gnorízo apó tin ópsi,

pou me viá metrá[i] ti[n] yi.

Ap' ta kókala vgalméni,

ton Ellínon ta ierá,

Ke san próta andrioméni,

hére, o hére, Eleftheriá!

A loose 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!

A more literal translation:

I shall always recognise you

By the dreadful 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!