The Armed Greek Mountain Outlaws and Their Songs

The Outlaws of The Greek Mountains and their songs

"Klephts : Greek κλέφτης, kléftis, pl. κλέφτες, kléftes, which means "thief" and perhaps originally meant just "brigand"were highwaymen turned self-appointed armatoloi, anti-Ottoman insurgents, and warlike mountain-folk who lived in the countryside when Greece was a part of the Ottoman Empire They were the descendants of Greeks who retreated into the mountains during the 15th century in order to avoid Ottoman rule. They carried on a continuous war against Ottoman rule and remained active as brigands until the 19th century. " Taken from Wikipedia - Full Article here

Oftenly these Greek outlaws had their own songs. Songs about Heroism, Death in battle, courage, attack on enemies etc And also sometimes about their way of life in Mountains and villages.

Below are some fragments from some of their songs

taken by the book:

 THE SONGS OF GREECE
by
By Charles Brinsley Sheridan , Published in March 1825

The pics in-between are portaits of the classic type of these outlaws

 

 

 "'Tis DEATH! - erect my tomb - but broad and high!
That when I hear the Moslems'battle-cry,
I may have space to raise my mould'ring corpse;
Appal with death, strike with living force!"

Taken from THE TOMB OF THE KLEPHT

"The Moslems counted thrice -
Five hundred Turks were slain-
The Klephtai count, and lo!
They all but three remain;

And one is gone for bread
and one is gone for water,
And one lies cold and dead;-
But one the foe could slaughter."

Taken from BOUKOVALLA

 

"That bloody flag is down,
That turban'd host are slaves
HELLAS HAS SMOTE THE TURK
UPON HER NATIVE WAVES"

Taken from STATHAS


"A summer storm more desolate
Than wintry wihrlwinds drives;
While with the turban'd foes of Greece
Kontoghianni strives"

Taken from KONTOGHIANNI

 

"THIS summer came the Pasha's threat;
Its seal was hot, its ink was wet:
"Ye Klephts, who hold each mountain height,
Descend and bow to Ali`s might"
But two, the boldest sons of Greece,
Will never pay that price for peace;
These grasp their guns and glittering swords,
And seek what cheer the wild affords"

Taken from THE SUMMONS TO THE KLEPHTAI OF MOUNT OLYMPUS

 

"The brave have here a citadel
In every lonely glen;
Rather than share with Turks the mosque,
We share with beasts the den"

Taken from STERGHIOS


"Fearless and few the Grecians met
Before the dawn of day;
To Pravi's brdge, with morn's foirst beams,
The forced their desperate way.

Then Tzaras, with damask blade,
Cut through the opposing chain;
And all the Turks, like timid kids,
Were scatter'd o`er the plain."


Taken from NIKO-TZARAS AT THE BRIDGE OF PRAVI