Palamasz, Kosztisz: Olympic Hymn (Ὁ Ὀλυμπιακὸς Ὕμνος Angol nyelven)

Ἀρχαῖο Πνεῦμ᾿ ἀθάνατο, ἁγνὲ πατέρα
τοῦ ὡραίου, τοῦ μεγάλου καὶ τ᾿ ἀληθινοῦ,
κατέβα, φανερώσου κι ἄστραψε ἐδῶ πέρα
στὴ δόξα τῆς δικῆς σου γῆς καὶ τ᾿ οὐρανοῦ.

Στὸ δρόμο καὶ στὸ πάλεμα καὶ στὸ λιθάρι,
στῶν εὐγενῶν Ἀγώνων λάμψε τὴν ὁρμὴ
καὶ μὲ τ᾿ ἀμάραντο στεφάνωσε κλωνάρι
καὶ σιδερένιο πλάσε κι ἄξιο τὸ κορμί.

Κάμποι, βουνὰ καὶ πέλαγα φέγγουν μαζί σου
σὰν ἕνας λευκοπόρφυρος μέγας ναός.
Καὶ τρέχει στὸ ναὸ ἐδῶ προσκυνητής σου,
Ἀρχαῖο Πνεῦμ᾿ ἀθάνατο κάθε λαός.

 
*Ὁ ὕμνος παραγγέλθηκε στὸν ποιητὴ τὸν Μάϊο τοῦ 1895 ἀπὸ τὴν Ἐπιτροπὴ Ὀλυμπιακῶν Ἀγώνων, ὕστερα ἀπὸ ἐπιμονὴ τῶν Δημ. Βικέλα καὶ Τιμ. Φιλήμονος. Ἡ παραγγελία θεωρήθηκε σὰν μία νίκη τῆς Δημοτικῆς. Μελοποιήθηκε ἀπὸ τὸν Κερκυραῖο μουσουργὸ Σπύρο Σαμάρα καὶ ἀπετέλεσε τὸν ὕμνο τῶν Ὀλυμπιακῶν Ἀγώνων, ποὺ ὠργανώθηκαν στὸ Στάδιο τὸ 1896. Ἀπὸ τὸ 1958 εἶναι ὁ ἐπίσημος ὕμνος τῶν Ἀγώνων καὶ ἀκούγεται ἀπὸ τότε σὲ ὅλες τὶς τελετὲς ἔναρξης στὰ Ἑλληνικά.

O Ancient immortal Spirit, pure father
Of beauty, of greatness and of truth,
Descend, reveal yourself and flash like lightning here,
within the glory of your own earth and sky.

At running and at wrestling and at throwing,
Shine in the momentum of noble contests,
And crown with the unfading branch
And make the body worthy and ironlike.

Plains, mountains and seas glow with you
Like a white-and-purple great temple,
And hurries at the temple here, your pilgrim,
O Ancient immortal Spirit, every nation.

 
*The Olympic Hymn, also known informally as the Olympic Anthem, is a choral cantata by opera composer Spyridon Samaras, with lyrics by Greek poet Kostis Palamas. Both poet and composer were the choice of the Greek Demetrius Vikelas, who was the first President of the International Olympic Committee. The anthem by Samaras and Palamas was declared the official Olympic Anthem by the International Olympic Committee in 1958 at the 54th Session of the IOC in Tokyo, Japan. Since 1960, it has been used at the opening ceremonies of each Olympic Games, and also during its closing ceremonies as well.