Elladografia

...


music by Manos Hadjidakis
verse by Nikos Gatsos



Ελλαδογραφία
/ Elladografia
Elladografia ("Sketch of Greece")

Τω καιρώ εκείνω ο ακμαιότερος κλάδος της πελασγικής δρυός
/ to kero ekino, o akmeoteros klados tis pelasyikis drios
during that time, the most thriving branch of pelasgian oak*
εκάλυπτε τρεις οικισμούς πέριξ του μυστηριώδους Βράχου της Ακροπόλεως
/ ekalipte tris ikismous perix tou mistiriodous Vrahou tis Akropoleos
was covering three house settlements about the mysterious rock of the Akropolis
Αλλά μετά τα δραματικά γεγονότα της Μεσοποταμίας,
/ alla meta ta dramatika yegonota tis Mesopotamias,
however, after the dramatic events of Mesopotamia,
τα οποία οδήγησαν εις την έξωσιν των πρωτοπλάστων εκ της κοιλάδος του Τίγρεως
/ ta opia odiyisan is tin exosin ton protoplaston ek tis kiladas tou Tigreos
which led to the eviction of "the ones that were created first", from the valley of the Tiger (river)
και προεκάλεσαν σύγχυσιν εις τας φρένας των ανθρώπων,
/ ke prokalesan sighisin is tas frenas ton anthropon,
and caused confusion within the "mental constitution" of human beings,
οι οικισμοί των Αθηνών ήρχισαν να πληθύνονται παραλόγως.
/ i ikismi ton Athinon, irhisan na plithinonte paralogos.
the house-settlements of Athens, began to increase unreasonably.
Αποτέλεσμα υπήρξεν η αλματώδης επέκτασις της πόλεως και
/ apotelesma ipirxen i almatodis epektasis tis poleos ke
(the) result (that) existed was the "by leaps and bounds" expansion of the city and
η δημιουργία του λεγομένου "άστεως", το οποίο κατά τους αρχαιοπλήκτους ιστορικούς
/ i dimiouryia tou legomenou "asteos", to opio kata tous arheopliktous istorikous
the creation of the so-called "tounsman", which by the "ancient-strikken" historians
εμεγαλούργησε και περιεβλήθη την αίγλην της αιωνιότητος.
/ emegalouryise ke perievlithi tin eglin tis eoniotitas.
"achieved great things" and "got cloaked" (with) the "glamour" of eternity.

Επίσκοποι και προεστοί
/ episkopi ke proesti
bishops and chieftains
κατακτητές και στρατηλάτες
/ kataktites ke stratilates
conquerors and "victorious army commanders"
επαναστάτες και αστοί
/ epanastates ke asti
revolutionists and bourgeois
της ιστορίας οι πελάτες.
/ tis istorias i pelates.
history's customers.

Αλλά οι αρχαίοι Θεοί, εν τη μερίμνη των δια τα υπόλοιπα πελασγικά φύλα,
/ alla i arhei Thei, en ti merimni ton dia ta ipolipa pelasyika fila,
however, the "ancient Gods", by their solicitude for the rest (of the) pelasgian tribes,
απεφάσισαν την βαθμιαία κατάρρευσιν των Αθηνών ως ηγέτιδος πόλεως
/ apefasisan tin vathmiea katarrefsin ton Athinon os iyetidos poleos
decided (on) the gradual collapse of Athens as "head city"
και την απαλλαγήν του Ελληνισμού, ως εθνικού πλέον συνόλου,
/ ke tin apallayin tou Ellinismou, os ethnikou pleon sinolou,
and the exoneration of Hellenism, as (an) ethnic whole, anymore,
εκ των κινδύνων του συγκεντρωτισμού.
/ ek ton kindinon tou sigentrotismou.
out of the danger of centralization.

Κατά τους επόμενους μακρούς αιώνας
/ kata tous epomenous makrous eonas
during the next long aeons
κατεβλήθησαν αρκεταί προσπάθειαι δια την αναβίωσιν του παλαιού άστεως,
/ katevlithisan arkete prospathie dia tin anaviosin tou paleou asteos,
adequate efforts were "shot" for the revival of the old "cityfolk",
αλλ' αύται απέβησαν άκαρποι.
/ all' afte apevisan akarpi.
nonetheless these turned out unproductive.
Ευτυχώς δε, διότι κατά την νεωτέραν και σκληροτέραν δοκιμασίαν του γένους,
/ eftihos de, dioti kata tin neoteran ke skliroteran dokimasian tou yenous,
fortunately indeed, because during the latest and hardest ordeal of the nation,
η εκ νέου κυριαρχία των Αθηνών, θα απεδυνάμωνε τας κορυφάς και
/ i ek neou kiriarhia ton Athinon, tha apedinamone tas korifas ke
the "de novo" sovereignty of Athens, would weaken the mountaintops and
τας πεδιάδας της πελασγικής γης,
/ tas pediadas tis pelasyikis yis,
the valleys of the pelasgian earth,
αι οποίαι διεμόρφωσαν την οριστικήν φυσιογνωμίαν της φυλής και
/ e opie diemorfosan tin oristikin fisiognomian tis filis ke
which, formed the final phusiognomy of the tribe and
κατηήγασαν δι' ανεσπέρου φωτός τους ομιχλώδεις ορίζοντας της περιδεούς ανθρωπότητος.
/ katiiyisan di' anesperou fotos tous omihlodis orizontas tis perideous anthropotitos.
(which) preceded through (an) "ever-shining" light, the foggy horizons of the apprehensive humankind

Στο Σούλι και στην Αλαμάνα
/ sto Souli kai stin Alamana
at Souli* and at Alamana*
κάναμε φως τη συμφορά
/ kaname fos ti simfora
we "generated" light, from calamity
θα μας θυμούνται τάχα μάνα καμμιά φορά;
/ tha mas thimounte taha, mana, kamia fora?
will they remember us "on the off chance", mother, at times?

Ματαία ελπίς. Ουδείς τους ενεθυμήθη ως ζώσας αιωνιότητας,
/ Matea elpis. Oudis tous enethimithi os zosas eoniotitas,
futile hope. noone of them remembered as "eternity living",
ουδείς τους κατενόησεν εις τας πραγματικάς των διαστάσεις.
/ oudis tous katenoisen is tas pragmatikas ton diastasis.
noone of them comprehended within their real dimensions.
Και αι Αθήναι, καταστάσαι πρωτεύουσα νεοπαγούς κράτους,
/ ke e Athine, katastase protevousa neopagous kratous,
and Athens, (once it was) established (as) the capital of (a) "newly-built" state,
ήρχισαν να προετοιμάζονται δια την εκ νέου απορρόφησιν της ικμάδος του έθνους.
/ irhisan na proetimazonte dia tin ek neou aporrofisin tis ikmadas tou ethnous.
(they) began to prepare for the "de novo" absorption of the nation's vitality
Αλλά η προγονική κληρονομία δεν είχεν εξ ολοκλήρου σπαταληθή και
/ alla i progoniki klironomia den ihe ex oloklirou spatalithi ke
nevertheless, the ancestral heritage had not been entirely wasted and
οι μεταγενέστεροι αδελφοί του μικρού Χορμόπουλου, εκ των Ηπειρωτικών ορέων
/ i metayenesteri adelfi tou mikrou Xormopoulou, ek ton Ipirotikon oreon
the succeeding brothers of little Hormopoulos, originating from the Epirotic Mountains
και εξ όλων των στενωπών της αθανάτου πατρίδος,
/ ke ex olon ton stenopon tis athanatou patridos,
and from all the passages of the immortal homeland,
διέπλευσαν την Αχερουσίαν της μοίρας των, με την γαλήνην του μαρτυρίου και της θυσίας.
/ dieplefsan tin Aherousian tis miras ton, me tin galinin tou martiriou ke tis thisias.
sailed across the Aherousian* (lake) of their fate, with the serenity of martyrdom and of sacrifice
Και τα βαρβαρικά έθνη ηπόρησαν και κατ' ιδίαν εκάγχασαν - ακριβώς όπως
αι Αθήναι.
/ ke ta varvarika ethni iporisan ke kat' idian ekaghasan - akrivos opos e Athine.
and the barbaric nations wondered and particularly tittered - exactly the same as Athens.

Χτυπάτε της οργής, προφήτες
/ htipate tis oryis, profites
strike the wrath's, (you) prophets
καμπάνα στην Καισιαριανή
/ kampana stin Kessariani
bell, at Kessariani
νά 'ρθουν απόψε οι Διστομίτες
/ na 'rthoun apopse i Distomites
(for) to come tonight the Distomites*
νά 'ρθουν κι οι Καλαβρυτινοί
/ na 'rthoun ki i Kalavritini*
to come also the Kalavritini
με σπαραγμό κι απελπισία
/ me sparagmo ki apelpisia
with laceration and despair
για τη χαμένη τους θυσία.
/ ya ti hameni tous thisia.
for their lost sacrifice.



... ... ...

Azim.. did the verses... "eat you" up???

LOL..

... ... ...


Άραγε, είναι αληθές ότι η θυσία των απέβη επί ματαίω;
/ araye, ine alithes oti i thisia ton apevi epi mateo ?
"is is possible then", (that) it is true that, their sacrifice "ended up" (being) in vain
Ουδείς δύναται να αποφανθή μετά βεβαιότητος και ουδείς δύναται να
/ oudis dinate na apofanthi meta veveotitos ke oudis dinate na
noone is able to declare with certainty and noone is able to
προεξοφλήση το μέλλον διότι η ιστορία των ανθρώπων είμαι μία
συνεχής παλινδρόμησις.
/ proexoflisi to mellon dioti, i istoria ton anthropon ine mia sinehis palindromisis.
anticipate the future because, the human beings' (hi)story is one continuous retrogression.
Αλλά με την διαρκώς ογκούμενην υπερτροφίαν της Αττικής
/ alla me tin diarkos ogkoumenin ypertrofian tis Attikis
however, with the constant voluminous hypertrophy of Attika
αι προοπτικαί διαγράφονται σκοτειναί.
/ e prooptike diagrafonte skotine.
perspectives "give the impression" (of being) dark.
Οι αρχαίοι Θεοί δεν υπάρχουν πλέον δια να δώσουν την λύσιν και ούτω, θάττον η βράδιον,
/ i arhei Thei den iparhoun pleon dia na dosoun tin lisin ke outo, thatton i vradion,
the ancient Gods do not exist anymore so as to give the solution and thus, sooner or later,
αι Αθήναι θα συγκεντρώσουν εις τους κόλπους των και θα εξαφανίσουν δια παντός
/ e Athine tha sigkentrosoun is tous kolpous ton ke tha exafanisoun dia pantos
Athens will gather in its "confines" and will eliminate for ever
την Ελληνικήν αρετήν, ως ο Κρόνος εις το απώτατον παρελθόν
/ tin Ellinikin aretin, os o Kronos is to apotaton parelthon
the Hellenic virtue, as Cronus in the farthermost past
κατέτρωγε τα ίδια αυτού τέκνα ή ως ο Ήλιος εις το απώτατον μέλλον
/ katetroye ta idia aftou tekna i os i Ilios is to apotaton mellon
devoured his very own offsprings or, as the Helios in the farthermost future
θα συγκεντρώσει εις τας αγκάλας του τους πλανήτας του και θα καταβροχθίσει αυτούς!
/ tha sigkentrosi is tas agkalas tou tous planitas tou ke tha katavrohthisi aftous!
will gather in its embrace its planets and will gulp them!
Γένοιτο! και εις τους αιώνας των αιώνων, αμήν.
/ Yenito! ke is tous eonas ton eonon, amin.
So be it! and for ever and ever, amen.

Πότε θ' ανθίσουνε τούτοι οι τόποι;
/ pote th' anthisoune touti i topi?
when will these lands blossom?
Πότε θα 'ρθούνε καινούργιοι ανθρώποι
/ pote tha 'rthoune kenouryii anthropi
when will novel human beings come
να συνοδεύσουνε την βλακεία
/ na sinodefsoun tin vlakia
to escort stupidity
στην τελευταία της κατοικία;
/ stin teleftea tis katikia?
to its "resting place"?

.

[Notes:
*Pelasgian oak : "Pelasgian" is "said" to be one of the Greeks' origins.
The sacred Oak-tree was believed to be the "residence-home" of the "sacred couple", Dione and Zeus.
Zeus, the father of all gods and mortals.
Dione, the farthemost ancient Pelasgian divinity, was the goddess of "fluid" nature; daughter of Aethera (Air) and Gaea (Earth); mother of Aphrodite and Erotas, necessary elements of all creation.
* Aherousia (lake) : known as, the gateway to Hades (the Underworld).
* Souli and Alamana : places were its people were "wiped out" by the Turks,
during the "1821 Greek Uprising" for independence from the Ottoman Empire.
*Distomites and Kalavritini : people from these places were "wiped out" by the Nazi Germans and Fascists,
during the "1940's Greek Resistance" against the Nazi German occupation of Greece.]


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... ...


Actually, ... yes !!! ... I have been "devoured" by this ... "magnificent" ... in size and content ... "piece of work", (or, should I "say", ... "masterpiece" ... !!! ...) ... !!! ... !!! ... !!! ...


... ...


.

...


dya ?!? ... are you "avoiding" me, by any chance ... ?!? ...


... ...



.

Καλησπέρα!

Well, you know me. I'm reading your song+interpretation, I become puzzled line by line, the curiosity is growing and growing...what is this? Grece's history in a song?! hmmm.....now, as you know me....what would be the next logical step to take? Of course.....find it and download it! Which I, of course, did! LOL!

I've just finished listening to it and that took time considering it has 10 whole minutes!!!

Impressive....it kind of confirmed my expectations regarding the way the melody would go....

And it's certainly not what I would have ever found by myself....so...ευχαριστώ...

You know what...

The day when I can translate something like that the way you did.... I can go to my grave satisfied!!

Originally Posted by dya

Καλησπέρα!

Well, you know me. I'm reading your song+interpretation, I become puzzled line by line, the curiosity is growing and growing...what is this? Grece's history in a song?! hmmm.....now, as you know me....what would be the next logical step to take? Of course.....find it and download it! Which I, of course, did! LOL!

I've just finished listening to it and that took time considering it has 10 whole minutes!!!

Impressive....it kind of confirmed my expectations regarding the way the melody would go....

And it's certainly not what I would have ever found by myself....so...ευχαριστώ...

... ...


dya mou ... you are "off" already ?!? ... without the "opportunity" of "saying" ...


... Kαληνύκτα σου, αξιέραστη ντύα μου ... !!! ... !!! ... !!! ...

... Καλήν Αύριο ... !!! ... !!! ... !!! ...

... και επίσης, ... Καλή σου Βδομάδα ... !!! ... !!! ... !!! ...


... ...


.

Originally Posted by omorfi

You know what...

The day when I can translate something like that the way you did.... I can go to my grave satisfied!!

Which, of course, Azim mou, does not imply that you could do the same! LOL!

And, yes, Omorfi is right...the masterpiece here seems to be found in your interpretation....

Just to confess here: I found it difficult to follow the lyrics as I was listening to it....what to say about matching words to their afferent translation....no way...! I'll come back to this one in a few months...at the moment it seems like a disertation paper, when in fact I'm still in the kindergarten!!! LOL!

Originally Posted by dya

Which, of course, Azim mou, does not imply that you could do the same! LOL!

And, yes, Omorfi is right...the masterpiece here seems to be found in your interpretation....

Just to confess here: I found it difficult to follow the lyrics as I was listening to it....what to say about matching words to their afferent translation....no way...! I'll come back to this one in a few months...at the moment it seems like a disertation paper, when in fact I'm still in the kindergarten!!! LOL!

Few months?? I'll come back to it, let's say...in a decade!

And, LOL... I didn't say Azim should end the life or anything!!

Originally Posted by omorfi

You know what...

The day when I can translate something like that the way you did.... I can go to my grave satisfied!!

... ...


Your "soul" ... "knows" ... it is "able" ... καφούρα μου ... !!! ...


... and I "know" that you are to "go to your grave, satisfied" ... !!! ... *υ* ... !!! ...


(AND, ... JUST BY THE WAY, ... I "work" VERY hard on such "interpretation" ... "checking" and "rechecking" EACH "WORD" ... from atleast FOUR different LEXIKONS ... (Ancient Greek Lexikon, Greek to Greek Lexikon, Greek to English Lexikon and English to English Lexikon) ... and I do "that" because "language" is of the most valuable of "gifts" for "OUR" ... "us beings" ... "COMMUNICATION" AND "CONCEPTION" ... and I "hold" GREAT "respect" and "awe" to "IT" [HER, the each and every "language"] ... !!! ... *υ* ... !!! ...)


ANYWAY ... as usual ... "this" is TOO long ... !!! LOL LOL LOL !!! ...


... ...


.

Originally Posted by azimut

dya mou ... you are "off" already ?!? ... without the "opportunity" of "saying" ...


... Kαληνύκτα σου, αξιέραστη ντύα μου ... !!! ... !!! ... !!! ...

... Καλήν Αύριο ... !!! ... !!! ... !!! ...

... και επίσης, ... Καλή σου Βδομάδα ... !!! ... !!! ... !!! ...


... ...


.

I never go to bed without saying Kαληνύκτα!!!

I wasn't off, I just went on a different thread while you were replying to this one.

But, it is late, indeed, and I'm already depressed considering that tomorrow morning I'm back to work again......I hate Mondays...I hate coming back to work after the holiday....I want another holiday....most certainly that would be in the summer....but, then again, I already start to feel better when I think about the summer holiday...cause that means...GOING TO GREECE!!! Ναι, ναι...το ξερώ...τρελη γυναικα...!!! LOL! LOL!!

λοιπον, παιδιά....Καληνύχτα και γλυκα ονειρα....τα ονειρα μου θα ειναι γλυκα....Θα ονειρευτώ για την Ελλάδα!!! Ετσι θελω εγώ, ετσι Θα ονειρευτώ!


Μα...το τελευταιο τσιγαρο....μαζι σας.... Λοιπον θα είμαι εδώ για μερικές στιγμές...Ειστε εδώ?

Originally Posted by azimut

... ...


Your "soul" ... "knows" ... it is "able" ... καφούρα μου ... !!! ...


... and I "know" that you are to "go to your grave, satisfied" ... !!! ... *υ* ... !!! ...


(AND, ... JUST BY THE WAY, ... I "work" VERY hard on such "interpretation" ... "checking" and "rechecking" EACH "WORD" ... from atleast FOUR different LEXIKONS ... (Ancient Greek Lexikon, Greek Lexikon, Greek to English Lexikon and English to English Lexikon) ... and I do "that" because "language" is of the most valuable of "gifts" for "OUR" ... "us beings" ... "COMMUNICATION" AND "CONCEPTION" ... and I "hold" GREAT "respect" and "awe" to "IT" [HER, the each and every "language"] ... !!! ... *υ* ... !!! ...)


ANYWAY ... as usual ... "this" is TOO long ... !!! LOL LOL LOL !!! ...



.

Oh dear!! Well you have my respect....

I'm not sure I will be satisfied ever, but I live in the hope...

Originally Posted by dya

Which, of course, Azim mou, does not imply that you could do the same! LOL!

And, yes, Omorfi is right...the masterpiece here seems to be found in your interpretation....

Just to confess here: I found it difficult to follow the lyrics as I was listening to it....what to say about matching words to their afferent translation....no way...! I'll come back to this one in a few months...at the moment it seems like a disertation paper, when in fact I'm still in the kindergarten!!! LOL!

... ...



... it is the "old formal way" of ... "writing" ... "Greek" ... and it is EXTREMELY "close" to the "ancient Greek language" ... !!! ... !!! ... !!! ...

... SO, ... "NO SURPRISE" you could not "under-stand" what you were "listening" to ... !!! ... *υ* ... !!! ...


AND, ... by the way, ... I "understood" what "omorfi" ... "meant" ... with "her expression" ... !!! ... *υ* ... !!! ...


Besides, ... it is AGES now that, I "made" it a "purpose" in and of my "Life" ... to "feel" ... "satisfied" ... at ANY "moment" ... !!! ... !!! ... !!! ...

(... not ALWAYS "succeeding" ofcourse, ... but as I "grow older and wiser" [!!! LOL !!!], ... I am more "there" than "elsewhere" ... "meaning" ... "in a satisfied place in and for my beingness" ... !!! ... *υ* ... !!! ...)


(... I have "come a long way" ... since the "naughty child" of my "yester years" ... !!! LOL !!! ... ... )


... ...


.

Originally Posted by dya

I never go to bed without saying Kαληνύκτα!!!

I wasn't off, I just went on a different thread while you were replying to this one.

But, it is late, indeed, and I'm already depressed considering that tomorrow morning I'm back to work again......I hate Mondays...I hate coming back to work after the holiday....I want another holiday....most certainly that would be in the summer....but, then again, I already start to feel better when I think about the summer holiday...cause that means...GOING TO GREECE!!! Ναι, ναι...το ξερώ...τρελη γυναικα...!!! LOL! LOL!!

λοιπον, παιδιά....Καληνύχτα και γλυκα ονειρα....τα ονειρα μου θα ειναι γλυκα....Θα ονειρευτώ για την Ελλάδα!!! Ετσι θελω εγώ, ετσι Θα ονειρευτώ!


Μα...το τελευταιο τσιγαρο....μαζι σας.... Λοιπον θα είμαι εδώ για μερικές στιγμές...Ειστε εδώ?

I hate Mondays too, doesn't mean I'm going to work or anything else... Monday is just a "useless" day I think... LOL... Nobody has positive thoughts when it comes to a Monday...

Summer in Greece..... AH GEORGE THIS IS THE BEST SUMMER OF MY LIFE!!

Good night dya mou, kai onira glika

... ...


ADORABLE DYA MOU !!! ... !!! ... !!!


... "tomorrow" is yet another day you will be "meeting here with all of us" ... !!! ... !!! ... !!! ...


... and "so" ... it is "yet another 'great' and 'wonder-full' day" ... !!! ... !!! ... !!! ...


... ...


.

Originally Posted by omorfi

Summer in Greece..... AH GEORGE THIS IS THE BEST SUMMER OF MY LIFE!!

Nα! That's the candy on top of my cake!! Ευχαριστώ, Ομορφη μου!

Originally Posted by dya

Nα! That's the candy on top of my cake!! Ευχαριστώ, Ομορφη μου!

The pleasure was on my side...

Originally Posted by omorfi

The pleasure was on my side...

Yeah, but I get the candy! And the cake from under the candy!!! Therefore, I can only assume I will, indeed, have....very sweet dreams.... ! Diabetically sweet!!! LOL!! I'm afraid not to get sick from so many...sweets...! I tend to become....insatiable in front of such a cake!! LOL!

Originally Posted by dya

Nα! That's the candy on top of my cake!! Ευχαριστώ, Ομορφη μου!

HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH


... NOWWWWW ... I "GOT" IT !!! ... !!! ... !!!


(!!! LOL !!! ... yes !!! yes !!! ... ALRIGHT ... I AM QUITE "SLOW" ... !!! ... I "KNOW" !!! ... OK ?!? ... !!! LOL LOL LOL !!! ... )


... ...


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