The Greek national anthem is based on the first two quatrains of the poem “Hymn to Freedom” by Dionysios Solomos, set to music by Nicholas Mantzaros in 1828. It was adopted in 1864 and is played during official occasions and Olympic Games closing ceremonies. The anthem exalts the virtues of freedom and was chosen as the new Greek national anthem after the overthrow of King Otto and the Ottoman Empire in 1821. The anthem was also adopted by Cyprus in 1966.
Adopted in 1864, the Greek national anthem is based on the first two quatrains, or lines, of the poem “Hymn to Freedom.” The poem was written in 1823 and set to music in 1828. Although the poem consists of a large number of parts, the hymn is limited to the first 24 lines. Of these 24 parts, only the first two are generally played. The anthem is played during the raising and lowering of the national flag, on official occasions, and at the end of each Olympic Games closing ceremony in recognition of the competition’s history.
The poem that would later become the Greek national anthem was written by the famous Zakynthos island poet Dionysios Solomos. Consisting of 158 lines, and reportedly completed in a month, the poem is about the power and virtues of freedom. In the poem, Solomos imagines freedom in such a way that he speaks of it in the second person throughout the composition. The Greek national anthem is unique in this exaltation of the virtues of freedom.
Nicholas Mantzaros, a close friend of Solomos, set the hymn to music in 1828. An opera composer, Mantzaros composed two pieces of music; one piece covered the entire poem, while the other was written for only the first two lines. Both men were honored for their work by the ruler of Greece at the time, King Otto. The piece did not replace the actual anthem, however, and it would be 1864 before the work was established as the Greek national anthem.
It was after King Otto and the Ottoman Empire were overthrown in 1821 that the anthem was adopted. Indeed, the spirit of the Greek revolution is at the heart of the song. With a solid establishment and a new king, George I, in his place, they sought out an actual piece of Greek work to form the new anthem.
Also known as the “Hymn to Freedom”, the piece has remained popular since the days of the revolution. The anthem is often sung and recited at gathering meetings, celebratory gatherings, and patriotic events. Considered a piece of Greek culture, King George I and the Greek government selected the work as the new Greek national anthem and royal anthem.
In 1960, the island of Cyprus had not adopted the “Hymn to Freedom” as its national anthem. Instead, classical music was played during official events instead of an anthem by agreement between the Turkish and Greek communities. The anthem was finally selected as the national anthem in 1966, following Turkey’s separation from the government.
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