Ancient Greek texts from the epic and lyrical poetry of the 8th-6th century B.C.

Translated and set to music by IOANNIDIS NIKOLAOS

The following texts are extracted from the booklet of the audio CD:

Click the title for information about this work and an introduction by the author

 

© Copyright 2002 translation and transcription : IOANNIDIS NIKOLAOS. All rights reserved

Ioannidis N. is a composer, musicologist, multi-instrumentalist performer, media theorist, and digital media creative producer (with formal qualifications in Music, Musicology, Media Studies, and Digital Media Studies), who is researching ancient Greek music and its relationship with all musical cultures that have been subject to the classical Greek cultural influence.

 

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Homer

Iliad - Prooimion

Sing, oh goddess, the perilous wrath of Achilles

audio

ΜΗΝΙΝ ΑΕΙΔΕ ΘΕΑ ΠΗΛΙΑΔΕΩ ΑΧΙΛΛΗΟΣ,
ΟΥΛΟΜΕΝΗΝ Ή ΜΥΡΙΑ ΑΧΑΙΟΙΣ ΑΛΓΕ' ΕΘΗΚΕ,
ΠΟΛΛΑΣ Δ' ΙΦΘΙΜΟΥΣ ΨΥΧΑΣ ΑΙΔΙ ΠΡΟΙΑΨΕΝ ΗΡΩΩΝ,
ΑΥΤΟΥΣ ΔΕ ΕΛΩΡΙΑ ΤΕΥΧΕ ΚΥΝΕΣΙΝ ΟΙΩΝΟΙΣΙ ΤΕ ΠΑΣΙ.
ΔΙΟΣ ΔΕ ΕΤΕΛΕΙΕΤΟ ΒΟΥΛΗ.
ΕΞ ΟΥ ΔΗ ΤΑ ΠΡΩΤΑ ΔΙΑΣΤΗΤΗΝ ΕΡΙΣΑΝΤΕ
ΑΤΡΕΙΔΗΣ ΤΕ ΑΝΑΞ ΑΝΔΡΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΔΙΟΣ ΑΧΙΛΛΕΥΣ.

Sing, O goddess,
the perilous wrath of Peleus' son Achilles,
that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans
and many brave souls sent to Hades,
and many heroes yielded a prey
to dogs and vultures,
for so was Zeus' will fulfilled.
Start from the day on which (Agamemnon)
the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles,
first fell out with one another.

.

Simonides

There is a saying about virtue

audio

ΕΣΤΙ ΤΙΣ ΛΟΓΟΣ
ΤΑΝ ΑΡΕΤΑΝ ΝΑΙΕΙΝ.
ΔΥΣΑΜΒΑΤΟΙΣ ΕΠΙ ΠΕΤΡΑΙΣ.
ΑΓΝΑΝ ΔΕ ΜΙΝ ΘΕΑΝ
ΧΩΡΟΝ ΑΓΝΟΝ ΑΜΦΕΠΕΙΝ.
ΟΥΔΕ ΠΑΝΤΩΝ ΒΛΕΦΑΡΟΙΣ
ΘΝΑΤΩΝ ΕΣΟΠΤΟΣ,
Ω ΜΗ ΔΑΚΕΘΥΜΟΣ ΙΔΡΩΣ
ΕΝΔΟΘΕΝ ΜΟΛΗ
ΙΚΗ Τ' ΕΣ ΑΚΡΟΝ ΑΝΔΡΕΙΑΣ.

There is a saying about virtue:

She nestles in rough untroden rocks

And reigns a divine, sacred land.

Not all mortals can see her.

Only those,

whose burning desire in their heart

leads them to the greatest deeds

.

Solon

Eunomia

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TAΥTA ΔIΔAΞAI ΘΥMOΣ AΘHNAIOΥΣ ME KEΛEΥEI,
ΩΣ KAKA ΠΛEIΣTA ΠOΛEI ΔΥΣNOMIH ΠAΡEXEI,
EΥNOMIH ΔE EΥKOΣMA KAI AΡTIA ΠANTA AΠOΦAINEI
KAI T` AMA TOIΣ` AΔIKOIΣ` AMΦITIΘHΣI ΠEΔAΣ'
TΡAXEA ΛEIAINEI, ΠAΥEI KOΡON, ΥBΡIN AMAΥΡOI,
AΥAINEI ATHΣ ANΘEA ΦΥOMENA, EΥΘΥNEI ΔE
ΔIKAΣ ΣKOΛIAΣ ΥΠEΡHΦANA T` EΡΓA ΠΡAΥNEI,
ΠAΥEI Δ` AΡΓAΛEHΣ EΡIΔOΣ XOΛON, EΣTI Δ` ΥΠ` AΥTHΣ
ΠANTA KAT` ANΘΡΩΠOΥΣ AΡTIA KAI ΠINΥTA.

These things my spirit bids me
teach the men of Athens:
that Dysnomia
brings countless evils for the city,
but Eunomia brings order
and makes everything proper,
by enfolding the unjust in fetters,.
smoothing those things that are rough,
stopping greed,
sentencing hybris to obscurity
making the flowers of mischief to whither,
and straightening crooked judgments.
It calms the deeds of arrogance
and stops the bilious anger of harsh strife.
Under its control, all things are proper
and prudence reigns human affairs

.

Anacreon

My lyre sings only songs of love

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ΘΕΛΩ ΛΕΓΕΙΝ ΑΤΡΕΙΔΑΣ,
ΘΕΛΩ ΔΕ ΚΑΔΜΟΝ ΑΙΔΕΙΝ,
Ο ΒΑΡΒΙΤΟΣ ΔΕ ΧΟΡΔΑΙΣ
ΕΡΩΤΑ ΜΟΥΝΟΝ ΗΧΕΙ.
ΗΜΕΙΨΑ ΝΕΥΡΑ ΠΡΩΗΝ
ΚΑΙ ΤΗΝ ΛΥΡΗΝ ΑΠΑΣΑΝ·
ΚΑΓΩ ΜΕΝ ΗΙΔΟΝ ΑΘΛΟΥΣ ΗΡΑΚΛΕΟΥΣ,
ΛΥΡΗ ΔΕ ΕΡΩΤΑΣ ΑΝΤΕΦΩΝΕΙ.
ΧΑΙΡΟΙΤΕ ΛΟΙΠΟΝ ΗΜΙΝ, ΗΡΩΕΣ·
Η ΛΥΡΗ ΓΑΡ ΜΟΝΟΥΣ ΕΡΩΤΑΣ ΑΙΔΕΙ.

I, too, wish to sing of heroic deeds
(about the Atreides, and about Kadmus),
but the lyre's strings
can only produce sounds of love.
Recently, I changed the strings,
and then the lyre itself,
and tried to sing of the feats of Hercules,
but still the lyre kept singing songs of love.
So, fare well, you heroes!
because my lyre sings only songs of love.

.

Sappho

Ode to Aphrodite

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ΠΟΙΚΙΛOΘΡΟΝ' AΘΑΝAΤ'AΦΡOΔΙΤΑ,
ΠΑI ΔIΟΣ ΔΟΛOΠΛΟΚΕ,
ΛIΣΣΟΜΑI ΣΕ,
ΜH Μ' AΣΑΙΣΙ ΜΗΔ' OΝIΑΙΣΙ
ΔAΜΝΑ, ΠOΤΝΙΑ, ΘYΜΟΝ,
AΛΛA ΤΥIΔ' EΛΘ',
ΑI ΠΟΤΑ ΚAΤEΡΩΤΑ ΤAΣ EΜΑΣ ΑYΔΑΣ AIΟΙΣΑ
ΠHΛΟΙ EΚΛΥΕΣ,
ΠAΤΡΟΣ ΔE ΔOΜΟΝ ΛIΠΟΙΣΑ ΧΡYΣΙΟΝ
HΛΘΕΣ AΡΜ' YΠΑΣΔΕYΞΑΙΣΑ· ΚAΛΟΙ ΔE Σ' AΓΟΝ
ΩΚΕΕΣ ΣΤΡΟΥΘΟΙ ΠΕΡΙ ΓΑΣ ΜΕΛΑΙΝΑΣ
ΠΥΚΝΑ ΔΙΝΝΕΝΤΕΣ ΠΤΕΡ' ΑΠ' ΩΡΑΝΩ ΙΘΕΡΟΣ ΔΙΑ ΜΕΣΣΩ·
ΑΙΨΑ Δ' ΕΞΙΚΟΝΤΟ· ΣΥ Δ', Ω ΜΑΚΑΙΡΑ,
ΜΕΙΔΙΑΙΣΑΙΣ' ΑΘΑΝΑΤΩΙ ΠΡΟΣΩΠΩΙ ΗΡΕ'
ΟΤΤΙ ΔΗΥΤΕ ΠΕΠΟΝΘΑ ΚΩΤΤΙ ΔΗΥΤΕ ΚΑΛΗΜΜΙ
ΚΩΤΤΙ ΜΟΙ ΜΑΛΙΣΤΑ ΘΕΛΩ ΓΕΝΕΣΘΑΙ ΜΑΙΝΟΛΑΙ ΘΥΜΩΙ·
ΤΙΝΑ ΔΗΥΤΕ ΠΕΙΘΩ. ΣΑΓΗΝ ΕΣ ΣΟΝ ΦΙΛΟΤΑΤΑ;
ΤΙΣ Σ', Ω ΨΑΠΦ', ΑΔΙΚΗΕΙ;
ΚΑΙ ΓΑΡ ΑΙ ΦΕΥΓΕΙ, ΤΑΧΕΩΣ ΔΙΩΞΕΙ,
ΑΙ ΔΕ ΔΩΡΑ ΜΗ ΔΕΚΕΤ', ΑΛΛΑ ΔΩΣΕΙ,
ΑΙ ΔΕ ΜΗ ΦΙΛΕΙ, ΤΑΧΕΩΣ ΦΙΛΗΣΕΙ ΚΩΥΚ ΕΘΕΛΟΙΣΑ.
ΕΛΘΕ ΜΟΙ ΚΑΙ ΝΥΝ,
ΧΑΛΕΠΑΝ ΔΕ ΛΥΣΟΝ ΕΚ ΜΕΡΙΜΝΑΝ,
ΟΣΣΑ ΔΕ ΜΟΙ ΤΕΛΕΣΣΑΙ ΘΥΜΟΣ ΙΜΕΡΡΕΙ,
ΤΕΛΕΣΟΝ, ΣΥ Δ' ΑΥΤΑ ΣΥΜΜΑΧΟΣ ΕΣΣΟ.

Immortal Aphrodite, beautiful-throned,
wiles-weaving child of Zeus, I beg you, Queen,
do not torment my heart with sorrow and pain
but come and help me again as you did before
when having heard my pleadings from far away
you left your father's golden palace
and yoked to your shining chariot swift, lovely sparrows
that brought you over the dark earth,
moving their thick-feathered wings
through the sky's bright ether.
Quickly they arrived; and then you, Goddess,
with a smile on your unaging face you asked me
what is wrong with me this time
and why I am calling you again
and what my wild heart wishes again.
"Again whom must I persuade into the harness of your love?
Who isn't treating you well, Sappho?
For if now runs away from you, soon will pursue you,
if not accepting gifts from you, soon will offer,
if not in love with you,
soon will love even if you no more care. "
Come to me now again, release me from this pain.
Everything my spirit longs to have fulfilled, fulfill,
and you be my ally.

.

Tyrtaeus

Spartan march

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ΑΓΕΤΕ', Ω ΣΠΑΡΤΑΣ ΕΥΑΝΔΡΩ

ΚΩΡΟΙ ΠΑΤΕΡΩΝ ΠΟΛΙΑΤΑΝ,

ΛΑΙΑ ΜΕΝ ΙΤΥΝ ΠΡΟΒΑΛΕΣΘΕ,

ΔΟΡΥ Δ' ΕΥΤΟΛΜΩΣ ΑΝΣΧΕΣΘΕ

ΜΗ ΦΕΙΔΟΜΕΝΟΙ ΤΑΣ ΖΩΑΣ.

ΟΥ ΓΑΡ ΠΑΤΡΙΟΝ ΤΑ ΣΠΑΡΤΑ.

Go forth, children of citizens of Sparta,
the land of brave men.
With left hand
the shield put forward firmly,
The spear raise with your right
Go forth and show your courage
without fearing for your life
Cause fear for one's own life
does not become to Spartans

.

.

Simonides

Danae and Perseus

audio

Ω ΤΕΚΟΣ, ΟΙΟΝ ΕΧΩ ΠΟΝΟΝ.
ΣΥ Δ' ΑΩΤΕΙΣ,
ΓΑΛΑΘΗΝΩ Δ' ΗΤΟΡΙ ΚΝΩΣΣΕΙΣ
ΕΝ ΑΤΕΡΠΕΙ ΔΟΥΡΑΤΙ ΧΑΛΚΕΟΓΟΜΦΩ
ΤΩΔΕ ΝΥΚΤΙΛΑΜΠΕΙ ΚΥΑΝΕΩ ΔΝΟΦΩ ΤΑΘΕΙΣ.
ΑΛΜΑΝ Δ' ΥΠΕΡΘΕΝ ΤΕΑΝ ΚΟΜΑΝ
ΒΑΘΕΙΑΝ ΠΑΡΙΟΝΤΟΣ ΚΥΜΑΤΟΣ ΟΥΚ ΑΛΕΓΕΙΣ
ΟΥΔ' ΑΝΕΜΟΥ ΦΘΟΓΓΟΝ
ΠΡΟΦΥΡΕΑ ΚΕΙΜΕΝΟΣ ΕΝ ΧΛΑΝΙΔΙ,
ΠΡΟΣΩΠΟΝ ΚΑΛΟΝ ΠΡΟΦΑΙΝΩΝ.
ΕΙ ΔΕ ΤΟΙ ΔΕΙΝΟΝ ΤΟ ΓΕ ΔΕΙΝΟΝ ΗΝ,
ΚΑΙ ΚΕΝ ΕΜΩΝ ΡΗΜΑΤΩΝ ΛΕΠΤΟΝ ΥΠΕΙΧΕΣ ΟΥΑΣ.
ΚΕΛΟΜΑΙ Σ' ΕΥΔΕ, ΒΡΕΦΟΣ
ΕΥΔΕΤΩ ΔΕ ΠΟΝΤΟΣ,
ΕΥΔΕΤΩ Δ' ΑΜΕΤΡΟΝ ΚΑΚΟΝ.

Oh son, what unbearable pain I' m in!

But you sleep serenely

in the blue darkness of the night,

lying down in this cheerless brass-bound chest.

Oh fair little face,

nestled in your purple cloak,

you don't feel the salt of the scudding waves over your hair,

nor the roaring wind.

Thank god, you don't feel the danger

And you don't sense my despair!

Sleep my baby!

And let the sea sleep!

And let this torment end!

.

.

Homer

Odyssey - Calypso and Ulysses

audio

ΔΙΟΓΕΝEΣ ΛΑΕΡΤΙAΔΗ, ΠΟΛΥΜHΧΑΝE OΔΥΣΣΕY

ΟΥΤΩ ΔΗ ΟΙΚΟΝΔΕ ΦΙΛΗΝ ΕΣ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΑ ΓΑΙΑΝ

ΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΝΥΝ ΕΘΕΛΕΙΣ ΙΕΝΑΙ΄.

ΣΥ ΔΕ ΧΑΙΡΕ ΚΑΙ ΕΜΠΗΣ.

ΕΙ ΓΕ ΜΕΝ ΕΙΔΕΙΗΣ ΣΗΣΙ ΦΡΕΣΙΝ

ΟΣΣΑ ΤΟΙ ΑΙΣΑ ΚΗΔΕΑ ΑΝΑΠΛΗΣΑΙ,

ΠΡΙΝ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΑ ΓΑΙΑΝ ΙΚΕΣΘΑΙ,

ΕΝΘΑΔΕ Κ' ΑΥΘΙ ΜΕΝΩΝ

ΣΥΝ ΕΜΟΙ ΤΟΔΕ ΔΩΜΑ ΦΥΛΑΣΣΟΙΣ

ΑΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ Τ' ΕΙΗΣ,

ΙΜΕΙΡΟΜΕΝΟΣ ΠΕΡ ΙΔΕΣΘΑΙ ΣΗΝ ΑΛΟΧΟΝ,

ΤΗΣ Τ' ΑΙΕΝ ΕΕΛΔΕΑΙ ΗΜΑΤΑ ΠΑΝΤΑ.

Ulysses, wise son of Laertes
I can see that you wish to start home at once to your beloved land.
Do as you please and may good luck be with you.
But if you only knew how much suffering is in store for you
before you get back to your own country,
you would stay right here, to run this palace along with me,
where you would become immortal,
no matter how great desire you may have to see your wife,
of whom you are thinking all the time day after day.

.

.

Mimnermos

Short-lived is treasured youth

audio

AΛΛ` OΛIΓOXΡONION ΓIΓNETAI
ΩΣΠEΡ ONAΡ HBH TIMHEΣΣA'
TO Δ` AΡΓAΛEON KAI AMOΡΦON ΓHΡAΣ
ΥΠEΡ KEΦAΛHΣ AΥTIX` ΥΠEΡKΡEMATAI,
EXTΡON OMΩΣ KAI ATIMON
Ο Τ' ΑΓΝΩΣΤΟΝ ΤΙΘΕΙ ΑΝΔΡΑ,
ΒΛΑΠΤΕΙ Δ' ΟΦΘΑΛΜΟΥΣ
ΚΑΙ ΝΟΟΝ ΑΜΦΙΧΥΘΕΝ.

Short-lived is treasured youth,

like a dream. And soon

the painful and ugly old age

looms above our heads,

hated and despised alike,

takes over men deforming

and making them unrecognizable,

damaging the sight, and mind.

.

.

Alcaeus

Winter

audio

ΥΕΙ ΜΕΝ Ο ΖΕΥΣ, ΕΚ Δ' ΟΡΑΝΩ ΜΕΓΑΣ
ΧΕΙΜΩΝ, ΠΕΠΑΓΑΙΣΙΝ Δ' ΥΔΑΤΩΝ ΡΟΑΙ.
ΚΑΒΒΑΛΕ ΤΟΝ ΧΕΙΜΩΝ', ΕΠΙ ΜΕΝ ΤΙΘΕΙΣ
ΠΥΡ, ΕΝ ΔΕ ΚΕΡΝΑΙΣ ΟΙΝΟΝ ΑΦΕΙΔΕΩΣ
ΜΕΛΙΧΡΟΝ, ΑΥΤΑΡ ΑΜΦΙ ΚΟΡΣΑ
ΜΟΛΘΑΚΟΝ ΑΜΦΙΤΙΘΕΙΣ ΓΝΟΦΑΛΛΟΝ

Zeus is pouring; heavy storm is coming from the sky,

and the water streams turn to ice.

Defeat the winter!

put on a big fire, fill up your glass with sweet wine,

and lay your head on your soft pillow

.

.

Alcman

Bucolic

audio

ΠΟΛΛΑΚΙ Δ' ΕΝ ΚΟΡΥΦΑΙΣ ΟΡΕΩΝ,

ΟΚΑ ΘΕΟΙΣΙ ΑΔΗ ΠΟΛΥΦΑΝΟΣ ΕΟΡΤΑ,

ΧΡΥΣΙΟΝ ΑΓΓΟΣ ΕΧΟΙΣΑ, ΜΕΓΑΝ ΣΚΥΦΟΝ,

ΟΙΑ ΤΕ ΠΟΙΜΕΝΕΣ ΑΝΔΡΕΣ ΕΧΟΥΣΙΝ,

ΧΕΡΣΙ ΛΕΟΝΤΕΟΝ ΕΝ ΓΑΛΑ ΘΕΙΣΑ ΤΥΡΟΝ ΕΤΥΡΗΣΑΣ

ΜΕΓΑΝ ΑΤΡΥΦΟΝ ΑΡΓΕΙΦΟΝΤΑΝ.

High on the mountains
Where Gods get pleased with grandiose rites
You took a golden pot,
big and deep,
The kind shepherd men have,
And then you put in lion's milk
And made great white cheese.

.

.

Hesiod

Rough is the road to happiness

audio

THΣ Δ` AΡETHΣ IΔΡΩTA
ΘEOI ΠΡOΠAΡOIΘEN EΘHKAN AΘANATOI'
MAKΡOΣ ΔE KAI OΡΘIOΣ OIMOΣ EΣ AΥTHN
KAI TΡHXΥΣ TO ΠΡΩTON'
EΠHN Δ` EIΣ AKΡON IKHAI,
ΡHIΔIH ΔH EΠEITA ΠEΛEI,
XAΛEΠH ΠEΡ EOΥΣA.

A lot of sweat put the immortal gods
to the forefront of the virtue reaching endeavor.
Long and hard and painful
the road to happiness in the begining.
But when you get there,
it becomes so easy
and pleasant that you forget
all the hardships that preceded.

.

.

Orphic hymn

In praise of Justice

audio

ΟΜΜΑ ΔΙΚΗΣ ΜΕΛΠΩ ΠΑΝΔΕΡΚΕΟΣ, ΑΓΛΑΟΜΟΡΦΟΥ,

Η ΚΑΙ ΖΗΝΟΣ ΑΝΑΚΤΟΣ ΕΠΙ ΘΡΟΝΟΝ ΙΕΡΟΝ ΙΖΕΙ

ΟΥΡΑΝΟΘΕΝ ΚΑΘΟΡΩΣΑ ΒΙΟΝ ΘΝΗΤΩΝ ΠΟΛΥΦΥΛΩΝ,

ΤΟΙΣ ΑΔΙΚΟΙΣ ΤΙΜΩΡΟΣ ΕΠΙΒΡΙΘΟΥΣΑ ΔΙΚΑΙΑ,

ΕΞ ΙΣΟΤΗΤΟΣ ΑΛΗΘΕΙΑΙ ΣΥΝΑΓΟΥΣ’ ΑΝΟΜΟΙΑ.

ΠΑΝΤΑ ΓΑΡ,

 ΟΣΣΑ ΚΑΚΑΙΣ ΓΝΩΜΑΙΣ ΘΝΗΤΟΙΣΙΝ ΟΧΕΙΤΑΙ ΔΥΣΚΡΙΤΑ,

ΒΟΥΛΟΜΕΝΟΙΣ ΤΟ ΠΛΕΟΝ ΒΟΥΛΑΙΣ ΑΔΙΚΟΙΣΙ,

ΜΟΥΝΗ ΕΠΕΜΒΑΙΝΟΥΣΑ ΔΙΚΗΝ ΑΔΙΚΟΙΣ ΕΠΕΓΕΙΡΕΙΣ.

ΕΧΘΡΑ ΤΩΝ ΑΔΙΚΩΝ, ΕΥΦΡΩΝ ΔΕ ΣΥΝΕΣΣΙ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΙΣ.

ΑΛΛΑ,ΘΕΑ ΜΟΛ’ ΕΠΙ ΓΝΩΜΑΙΣ ΕΣΘΛΑΙΣΙ ΔΙΚΑΙΑ,

ΩΣ ΑΝ ΑΕΙ ΒΙΟΤΗΣ ΤΟ ΠΕΠΡΩΜΕΝΟΝ ΗΜΑΡ ΕΠΕΛΘΕΙ.

I praise the all-seeing , shine-faced Dike

who sits beside the throne of Zeus

and from heaven she oversees

the life and conduct of all mankind,

coming upon the unjust as just avenger

and bringing close the opposites

on the basis of truth and equality.

Because not all evil thoughts, urging men

towards acquisition of more in unjust ways,

are easily discernible.

But you, enemy of the wrong doers,

immediately come upon them and punish,

while being good with the righteous.

Come, goddess, be fair with the fair minded

Till the destined end of life comes.

.

.

Bacchylides

Great gifts, peace brings to mortals

audio

TIKTEI ΔE TE ΘNATOIΣIN EIΡHNH MEΓAΛA

ΠΛOΥTON KAI MEΛIΓΛΩΣΣΩN AOIΔAN ANΘEA,

ΔAIΔAΛEΩN T` EΠI BΩMΩN ΘEOIΣIN AIΘEΣΘAI

BOΩN ΞANΘA ΦΛOΓI MHΡA

TANΥTΡIXΩN TE MHΛΩN,

ΓΥMNAΣIΩN TE NEOIΣ

AΥΛΩN TE KAI KΩMΩN MEΛEIN.

Peace bears great gifts for mortals;
Wealth, and the flourishing
of sweet melodic music.
On the yellow flames
of the decorated altars
bovine and thick-haired lambs' members
are burned for gods,
and youths get engaged in gyms
and arts and reveling.

.

Archilochos

Oh soul

audio

ΘΥΜΕ, ΘΥΜ', ΑΜΗΧΑΝΟΙΣΙ ΚΗΔΕΣΙΝ ΚΥΚΩΜΕΝΕ ΑΝΑΔΥ,
ΔΥΣΜΕΝΩΝ Δ' ΑΛΕΞΕΥ ΠΡΟΣΒΑΛΩΝ ΕΝΑΝΤΙΟΝ ΣΤΕΡΝΟΝ,
ΕΝ ΔΟΚΟΙΣΙΝ ΕΧΘΡΩΝ ΠΛΗΣΙΟΝ ΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΘΕΙΣ ΑΣΦΑΛΕΩΣ.
ΚΑΙ ΜΗΤΕ ΝΙΚΩΝ ΑΜΦΑΔΗΝ ΑΓΑΛΛΕΟ,
ΜΗΤΕ ΝΙΚΗΘΕΙΣ ΕΝ ΟΙΚΩ ΚΑΤΑΠΕΣΩΝ ΟΔΥΡΕΟ,
ΑΛΛΑ ΧΑΡΤΟΙΣΙΝ ΤΕ ΧΑΙΡΕ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΚΟΙΣΙΝ ΑΣΧΑΛΑ ΜΗ ΛΙΗΝ.
ΓΙΓΝΩΣΚΕ Δ' ΟΙΟΣ ΡΥΣΜΟΣ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΥΣ ΕΧΕΙ.

Oh soul, torn by unbearable concerns,
Stand up, defend yourself from your enemies,
Outsmart them moving cautiously
through their ambushes.
But do not triumph when you win,
nor lay down crying when defeated,
Nor get overjoyed in your joys,
or overwhelmed in your sorrows
just learn what rhythm governs human affairs.

..

 

Other related works by IOANNIDIS :

ALBUM: Music and Religion Ancient and Medieval religious music from different cultures (extant ancient Greek religious songs, Byzantine chant, Gregorian chant, Quranic Suras) 

Oedipus Rex Audio excerpt of the   English opera by Ioannidis, and  the complete Greek text of Sophocles' tragedy "Oedipus the king"  edited by IOANNIDIS

ANCIENT GREEK INSTRUMENTS reconstructed by Ioannidis and used in the ancient Greek recordings

ALBUM: Ancient Kithara Works (under publication)

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the IOANNIDIS DOWNLOADS page

 

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