Greece’s national hymn, the Hymn to Liberty, is a long patriotic poem of 158 stanzas written by Dionysios Solomos and only the first two stanzas are used as the official national anthem.
Length and typical usage
Although the full poem contains 158 stanzas, the modern national anthem consists of only the first two stanzas for official performances and ceremonies. The remainder of the poem remains important as literature and historical context rather than sung state ritual.
Adoption and significance
The Hymn to Liberty was adopted in the nineteenth century and has been a lasting national symbol that celebrates Greece’s struggle for freedom and national identity. Its unusually large textual scope has earned it recognition as the longest national anthem by text length in reference works and cultural histories.
Cultural notes
The contrast between the full poem and the brief anthem sung at events highlights how nations select compact extracts for ritual use while preserving broader poetic works for education, literature and national memory.