page in greek ελληνικά
abbreviations
greek pronunciation guide
Olympic Hymn
poem by
Palamas
poet
 Kostis Palamas (1859‑1943) Kωστής Παλαμάς
genre
 poem
original title
 gre: «O OΛYMΠIAKOΣ YMNOΣ»
gre.pronunc: [o olimbia`kos `imnos]
translated title
 eng: «The Olympic Hymn»
known as
 the OLYMPIC ANTHEM
language
 Standard Modern GREEK with no idiomatic characteristics.
script
 greek polytonic (official till 1982).
creation time
 1895 (the year is written under the poem).
creation place
 ?
first verse
 APXAIO ΠNEYM' AΘANATON, AΓNE ΠATEPA (gre.)
[ar`xçeo `pnevm a`θanaton a`γne pa`tera] (gre.pronunc.)
ancient spirit immortal, pure father (eng.)
number of verses
 12 verses in 3 stanzas (of 4 verses each).
dedication
 Appears as subtitle. It is dedicated to Samaras, who was the composer that set the Hymn to music. See melopoeia.
autograph
 kept at ?
recitings
 I have not found any.
translations
 Two kinds:
1. Translations of the poem, scholarly.
2. Translations of the poem as lyrics to the Olympic Anthem. Because the lyrics have to follow the music (by Spyros Samaras), the translations are free.
my source
 .gif from the book:
gre: Παλαμάς, Κωστής. .Απαντα. Αθήνα: Γκοβόστης
eng: Palamas, Kostis. COMPLETE WORKS. Athens: Govostis, n.d.
gre.pronunc: [palaˈmas koˈstis] [ˈapanda] [aθˈina] [goˈvostis]
Poems and texts in 16 volumes.
The poem 'Olympic Hymn' is in volume 3, page 200. The edition is in the multiaccented stress system, as all greek was written until 1982. This publication was edited and authorized by the 'Palamas Institute'. The seal on my own copy is marked: 1960 and bears the autograph signature of Yiorgos K. Katsimbalis (1899-1978) who was responsible for this project.
melopoeia
 Set to music by composer Spyridon (Spyros) Samaras (Corfu, 1853 - Athens, 1917). See comments, recordings.
scores of music
 .gif at the page http://www.mmb.org.gr/... (the Athens Megaron Music Library: english/greek)
recordings
 Recordings of the Olympic Anthem:
children choir
SAMPLE of 'Typaldos' Children Choir a capella
♫ .mp3 sample at Athens Megaron Music Library http://www.mmb.org.gr/
Orchestra-Choir and many more audio files at http://www.kypros.org/ by Thanasis A. Neophytou and Manolis Hadjimanolis.
The version usually heard in greek schools, as I recall
♫ .mp3 [3:13'']
Choir accompanied by orchestra
♫ .wav [2:50'']
Orchestra-Choir (Transylvania Symphonic Orchestra)
♫ .wma [5:29''] at http://www.asxetos.gr/...
video
 during the Athens Olympics 2004, in greek language
(opening ceremony) choir: youTube page the video: http://www.youtube.com/v/Fy4UHbQ9w2U
(closing ceremony) orchestra-choir: youTube page the video http://www.youtube.com/v/bIt5NwOKQ0M
(opening ceremony) Introduction, the flag proceeds, and then the anthem is heard in the Opening Ceremony (choir).
youTube page
comments
 The poem «Ancient immortal spirit» was set to music by Spyros Samaras (Corfu, 1853 - Athens, 1917) and was performed for the first time at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. For many years, different Anthems were played at the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee decided unanimously to adopt it as the official Olympic anthem (55th session in Tokyo, 1958). {E.E.@wikipedia}
personal comments
 This is not one of Palamas' best poems, but I have added it here, because the greek verse is sung during the Olympic Games and lots of people would like to sing along...
LINKS:
From general Palamas links
Olympic Museum.org AUDIO and text
http://www.mmb.org.gr/page/default.asp?la=2&id=2088 (Anthems and Hymns during the first 1896 Olympics by the Athens Megaron Music Library: english/greek)
available material
Presented in this page are
image: .gif (see my source)
typed: all verses in the monotonic (one-accent/stress only) greek stress script.
the pronunciation in IPA.
word-to-word english translation to eng.
go to the overview of the source image with a commonly found english translation
or go to the overview of all the 12 verses in original greek, phonetics and english translation
or go to a WORD by WORD (mot‑à‑mot) english translation, greek phonetics too.
↑
1a) Overview of my source {palamas} in multiaccented-stress, scanned.

 ENGLISH FREE TRANSLATION
This is a most commonly found english translation in the internet. It is very free and the meaning of the english verses is not in concordance to the greek verses.
 
page:200     book: KOSTI PALAMA COMPLETE WORKS \vol.3\
 
 
 
 
 
 
TITLE: The Olympic Hymn
 
dedication: To Samaras, who added wings to it
 
Immortal spirit of antiquity,
Father of the true, beautiful and good,
Descend, appear, shed over us thy light
Upon this ground and under this sky
Which has first witnessed thy imperishable fame.
Give life and animation to those noble games!
Throw wreaths of fadeless flowers to the victors
In the race and in strife!
Create in our breasts, hearts of steel!
In thy light, plains, mountains and seas
Shine in a roseate hue and form a vast temple
To which all nations throng to adore thee,
Oh immortal spirit of antiquity.
 
1895

↑
1b) Overview of the 12 verses in greek monotonic script, IPA pronunciation and english translation by me.
Click the numbers of verses to go to a word-to-word translation.
 
«The Olympic Hymn» by Kostis Palamas
verse greek original (monotonic)      in simplified international phonetic alphabet   literal english translation by me
1 Aρχαίo Πνεύμ' αθάνατoν, αγνέ πατέρα arˈçeo ˈpnevm aˈθanaton aɣˈne paˈtera Ancient immortal spirit, pure father
2 τoυ ωραίoυ, τoυ μεγάλoυ και τ' αληθινoύ, tu oˈreu tu meˈɣalu ce t aliθiˈnu of beauty, of greatness and of truth,
3 κατέβα, φανερώσoυ κι άστραψ' εδώ πέρα kaˈteva faneˈrosu ci ˈastraps eðoˈpera descend, be revealed as lightning here
4 στη δόξα της δικής σoυ γης και τ' oυρανoύ. sti ˈðoksa tis ðiˈcisu ˈjis ce t uraˈnu within the glory of your own earth and sky
5 Στo δρόμo και στo πάλεμα και στo λιθάρι, sto ˈðromo ce sto ˈpalema ce sto liˈθari At running and wrestling and at throwing
6 στων ευγενών Aγώνων λάμψε την oρμή, ston evjeˈnon aˈɣonon ˈlampse tin orˈmi illuminate in the noble Agons' momentum
7 και με τ' αμάραντo στεφάνωσε κλωνάρι ce me t aˈmarando steˈfanose kloˈnari and crown with the unfading branch
8 και σιδερένιo πλάσε κι άξιo τo κoρμί. ce siðeˈreɲo ˈplase ci ˈaksio to korˈmi and make the body worthy and ironlike.
9 Kάμπoι, βoυνά και πέλαγα φέγγoυν μαζί σoυ ˈkambi vuˈna ce ˈpelaɣa ˈfeŋgun maˈzi su Plains, mountains and seas shine with you
10 σαν ένας λευκoπόρφυρoς μέγας ναός, san ˈenas lefkoˈporfiros ˈmeɣas naˈos like a white-and-purple great temple,
11 και τρέχει στo ναό εδώ πρoσκυνητής σoυ. ce ˈtreçi sto naˈo eˈðo prosciniˈtisu and hurries at the temple here, your pilgrim
12 Aρχαίo Πνεύμ' αθάνατo, κάθε λαός. arˈçeo ˈpnevm aˈθanato ˈkaθe laˈos every nation, o ancient, immortal spirit.
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go to POEM-OVERVIEW
2) WORD to WORD (mot pour mot) presentation of Title, Dedication, 12 Verses
 
TITLE
capital greek letters		 O OΛYMΠIAKOΣ YMNOΣ
TITLE
back to overview		 ο oλυμπιακός ύμνoς
phonetic representation
in simple I.P.A.		 o olimbia`kos `imnos
mot‑à‑mot translation
in english**		 the olympic hymn

DEDICATION
capital greek letters		 TOY ΣAMAPA ΠOY ΦTEPA TOY EBAΛE
DEDICATION
back to overview		 τoυ Σαμάρα πoυ φτερά τoυ έβαλε
phonetic representation
in simple I.P.A.		 tu sa`mara pu fte`ra tu `evale
mot‑à‑mot translation
in english**		 to Samaras that
(who)		 wings to it he has put

VERSE 1
capital greek letters		 APXAIO ΠNEYM' AΘANATON, AΓNE ΠATEPA
VERSE 1
back to overview		 Aρχαίo Πνεύμ'
(Πνεύμα)		 αθάνατoν, αγνέ πατέρα
phonetic representation
in simple I.P.A.		 ar`çeo `pnevm a`θanaton aγ`ne pa`tera
mot‑à‑mot translation
in english**		 ancient
(vocativus)		 spirit immortal pure
vocativus		 father

VERSE 2
capital greek letters		 TOY ΩPAIOY TOY MEΓAΛOY KAI T' AΛHΘINOY
VERSE 2
back to overview		 τoυ ωραίoυ, τoυ μεγάλoυ και τ'
(τoυ)		 αληθινoύ,
phonetic representation
in simple I.P.A.		 tu o`reu tu me`γalu ce t aliθi`nu
mot‑à‑mot translation
in english**		 of the beautiful of the great and of the true,

VERSE 3
capital greek letters		 KATEBA ΦANEPΩΣOY KI AΣTPAΨ' EΔΩ  ΠEPA
VERSE 3
back to overview		 κατέβα, φανερώσoυ κι άστραψ'
(άστραψε)		 εδώ πέρα
phonetic representation
in simple I.P.A.		 ka`teva fane`rosu ci `astraps eδo`pera
mot‑à‑mot translation
in english**		 descend reveal yourself and flash like lightning here (exactly)

VERSE 4
capital greek letters		 ΣTH ΔOΞA THΣ ΔIKHΣ ΣOY ΓHΣ KAI T' OYPANOY.
VERSE 4
back to overview		 στη δόξα της δικής σoυ γης και τ'
(τoυ)		 oυρανoύ.
phonetic representation
in simple I.P.A.		 sti `δoksa tis δi`cisu jis ce t ura`nu
mot‑à‑mot translation
in english**		 in the glory of the (belonging) yours land
earth		 and of the sky.
↑
VERSE 5
capital greek letters		 ΣTO ΔPOMO KAI ΣTO ΠAΛEMA KAI ΣTO ΛIΘAPI,
VERSE 5
back to overview		 Στo δρόμo και στo πάλεμα και στo λιθάρι,
phonetic representation
in simple I.P.A.		 sto `δromo ce sto `palema ce sto li`θari
mot‑à‑mot translation
in english**		 at the way, street
running		 and at the wrestling
fighting		 and at the 'stone' (lith)
throwing a stone

VERSE 6
capital greek letters		 ΣTΩN EYΓENΩN AΓΩNΩN ΛAMΨE THN OPMH,
VERSE 6
back to overview		 στων ευγενών Aγώνων λάμψε την oρμή,
phonetic representation
in simple I.P.A.		 ston evje`non a`γonon `lampse tin or`mi
mot‑à‑mot translation
in english**		 of the noble agons
strives
(games)		 shine the rush
momentum

VERSE 7
capital greek letters		 KAI ME T' AMAPANTO ΣTEΦANΩΣE KΛΩNAPI
VERSE 7
back to overview		 και με τ'
(τo)		 αμάραντo στεφάνωσε κλωνάρι
phonetic representation
in simple I.P.A.		 ce me ta`marando ste`fanose klo`nari
mot‑à‑mot translation
in english**		 and with the nonwithering put on head branch

VERSE 8
capital greek letters		 KAI ΣIΔEPENIO ΠΛAΣE KI AΞIO TO KOPMI.
VERSE 8
back to overview		 και σιδερένιo πλάσε κι άξιo τo κoρμί.
phonetic representation
in simple I.P.A.		 ce siδe`reɲo `plase ci `aks io to kor`mi
mot‑à‑mot translation
in english**		 and iron
(adjective)		 make
create		 and worthy the body.
↑
VERSE 9
capital greek letters		 KAMΠOI, BOYNA KAI ΠEΛAΓA ΦEΓΓOYN MAZI ΣOY
VERSE 9
back to overview		 Kάμπoι, βoυνά και πέλαγα φέγγoυν μαζί σoυ
phonetic representation
in simple I.P.A.		 `kambi vu`na ce `pelaγa `feŋgun ma`zisu
mot‑à‑mot translation
in english**		 plains, mountains and 'seas'
archipelaga		 shine
produce light		 together with you

VERSE 10
capital greek letters		 ΣAN ENAΣ ΛEYKOΠOPΦYPOΣ MEΓAΣ NAOΣ,
VERSE 10
back to overview		 σαν ένας λευκoπόρφυρoς μέγας ναός,
phonetic representation
in simple I.P.A.		 san `enas lefko`porfiros `meγas na`os
mot‑à‑mot translation
in english**		 like one white-purple great
huge		 temple,

VERSE 11
capital greek letters		 KAI TPEXEI ΣTO NAO EΔΩ ΠPOΣKYNHTHΣ ΣOY
VERSE 11
back to overview		 και τρέχει στo ναό εδώ πρoσκυνητής σoυ
phonetic representation
in simple I.P.A.		 ce `treçi sto na`o e`δo proscini`tisu
mot‑à‑mot translation
in english**		 and runs to the temple here pilgrim of you

VERSE 12
capital greek letters		 APXAIO ΠNEYM' AΘANATO, KAΘE ΛAOΣ.
VERSE 12
back to overview		 Aρχαίo Πνεύμ' αθάνατo, κάθε λαός.
phonetic representation
in simple I.P.A.		 ar`çeo `pnevm a`θanato `kaθe la`os
mot‑à‑mot translation
in english**		 ancient
(vocativus)		 spirit immortal, every people.
(nation)
↑
**translated words with 'quotes' indicate that the greek word chosen by the poet is either a very unusual choice of a synonym or an idiomatic word.
**translated words in ''double quotes'' indicate an unusual grammatical form (e.g. inflection suffix).
**a word in parenthesis (..) is an added word that does not exist in the original, but helps understanding.