The Greek poem that forms the basis of Greece’s national anthem, “Hymn to Liberty,” has 158 stanzas.
Dionysios Solomos wrote the poem in 1823, during the Greek War of Independence. Its 158 four-line stanzas celebrate the rebirth of Greece and the struggle against Ottoman rule. The poem is much longer than the portion used ceremonially.
In 1865, the first two stanzas were adopted as Greece’s national anthem. Cyprus also uses the same music and words for its anthem, making this one of the clearest musical links between the two countries.
A common mix-up is to say that all 158 stanzas are sung at official events. In practice, only the opening stanzas are normally performed. The poem’s full length is the notable numerical fact, while the anthem itself is usually heard in a much shorter form.