Greece

Apr 22

Σε γνωρίζω από την κόψη
του σπαθιού την τρομερή,
σε γνωρίζω από την όψη
που με βία μετράει τη γη.

Απ’ τα κόκκαλα βγαλμένη
των Ελλήνων τα ιερά,
και σαν πρώτα ανδρειωμένη,
χαίρε, ω χαίρε, Ελευθεριά!

Transliteration

Se gnorízo apó tin kópsi
tou spathiú tin tromerí,
se gnorízo apó tin ópsi
pou me vía metrái ti gi.

Ap’ ta kókkala vgalméni
ton Ellínon ta ierá,
kai san próta andreiómeni,
chaíre, o chaíre, Eleftheriá!

I recognize you by the sharpness
of your fearsome sword,
I recognize you by the expression
that swiftly surveys the land.

From the sacred bones arisen
of the Greeks of old,
and brave as you once were,
hail, oh hail, Liberty!

This is one of the longest national anthems in the world, it has 158 verses, and was written as a poem in 1823 by Dionysios Solomos.

In practice only the first two verses are sung as the national anthem.