Sunday 17 May 2009

The Moment in History to Which I Would Return

For me it would have to be the hills of Attica, overlooking the Bay of Salamis. It's 480BC and the Athenian navy is advancing against the armada of Xerxes. The Greek sailors are singing their paean, a battle hymn that will be carried down the ages;

Ὦ παῖδες Ἑλλήνων ἴτε,
ἐλευθεροῦτε πατρίδ', ἐλευθεροῦτε δὲ
παῖδας, γυναῖκας, θεῶν τέ πατρῴων ἕδη,
θήκας τε προγόνων:
νῦν ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀγών.

Forward, sons of the Greeks,
Liberate the fatherland,
Liberate your children, your women,
The altars of the gods of your fathers
And the graves of your forebears:
Now is the fight for everything.


This is truly one of the great moments in human history. I cannot imagine watching it without being incredibly moved. :)

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