Photos

This is the heart of the city of Zakynthos: the Dionysios Solomos Square, the central square of this beautiful town.

Almost at the center of my photo, you can see the statue of Dionysios Solomos. Dionysios Solomos is the Greek National Poet and the most famous poem "Hymn to Freedom" became the national anthem of Greece.

This square is quite big, near to sea and the late hours, at summer is full of people drinking coffee or drinks and going around. A very "live" place.

Infos about Dionysios Solomos:

Dionysios Solomos (greek: Διονύσιος Σολωμός) (1798-1857) was a Greek poet from Zakynthos. He is best known for writing the poem "Hymn to Freedom" (Imnos pros tin Eleftherian) in 1823, of which the first two stanzas became the Greek national anthem.

He was born in 1798 to a wealthy family, and in 1808 he went to Italy, where he studied law. After 10 years he returned to Zakynthos with a solid background in literature. Solomos became famous as a poet during this time, while still a young man.

At the end of 1828 he left Zakynthos and settled in Kerkyra ("Corfu") in order to dedicate himself to poetry. When he returned from Italy he brought back with him poems of religious content. He later wrote sonnets. His first long poem was the Hymn to Freedom.

Solomos died in February 1857 from apoplexy. His remains were transferred to Zakynthos in 1865.

Hymn to Freedom (Greek National Anthem)

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!

English Translations

I recognize you from the dreadful
edge of your sword
I recognize you from the countenance
which surveys the earth with force
Risen from the sacred bones
of the Greeks
and, valiant as before,
hail, oh hail, liberty!

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