Greece National Anthem

Greece National Anthem

The Greek National Anthem is part of a poem titled “Hymn to Liberty” written by Dionysios Solomos in 1823. The poem was written in Zakynthos and published one year later in Mesologgi. It combines elements of romanticism and classicism, while the verses consist of four lines each. The poem was set to music in 1828 by Nikolaos Mantzaros from Corfu and since then, it had been performed frequently during national holidays, thus becoming an unofficial anthem of the Ionian Islands. Mantzaros submitted his work for review by King Otto and was awarded the Silver Cross of the Order of the Saviour in 1845. Four years later, Solomos was also awarded the Golden Cross of the Order of the Saviour. Although the work was called a patriotic hymn, it was not accepted as a national anthem by Otto.

In 1865, King George I visited Corfu in the event of the annexing of the Ionian Islands of Greece, and he heard the poem for the first time, performed by the band of the Philharmonic of Corfu. He was so impressed that an edict was soon passed, rendering it the Official National Anthem of Greece.

The poem Hymn to Liberty consists of 158 four – line verses, the first 24 becoming the National Anthem. The first two verses are always performed during the raising and downhaul of the Greek flag, as well as in formal events. Since 1966, it has also become the National Anthem of the Republic of Cyprus.