Blessing Beijing Olympic Games from a Greek Island
希腊小岛的奥运祝福
Blessing Beijing Olympic Games from a Greek Island
——一个现代希腊人的古希腊语奥运颂歌
----- an ode in ancient Greek language from a modern Greek person
杨少波 YANG SHAO BO
In 5th century BC, Pindar was a famous poet in City-state Thebes. His odes of ancient Greek lyrics are masterpieces at Greek literature history. From to , and then to ……Pindar wrote many elegant odes for sports winners, which made him not only a hero at his hometown, but also an exalted guest in other City-states. His series lifelike, picturesque and grandiose odes were well-known and recited by people at that time. These odes were not only lyrics but also vivid history with exact names and facts.
公元前五世纪的古希腊诗人品达罗斯是忒拜国的著名歌手，他歌颂古希腊奥运会得胜者的颂歌，是希腊文学史上的千古名篇。从他的《奥林匹亚竞技胜利者颂》到《皮托竞技胜利者颂》到《伊斯特摩斯竞技胜利者颂》……品达罗斯对古希腊体育竞技优胜者的优美赞辞，使得他不仅成为自己故乡特拜城的英雄，而且成为希腊各个城邦的尊贵宾客。他生动具体、气势宏伟的一系列颂歌，不仅是当时妇孺皆知、琅琅上口的文学诗篇，而且是有名有姓、有根有据的鲜活历史。
Like Greek poet Homer, Pindar’s works are both literature and history. His odes are precious documents for Ancient Olympic Games as well as for the history of that period. Today from a small island Oinoussai, a Greek called Evangelos E. Angelakos will continue this great history of ode which occurred 2500 years before. He will write a modern ode for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the same ancient Greek language which Pindar has used.
像古希腊诗人荷马的作品一样，他的文字既是文学，又是历史。他为一系列体育赛事所谱写的颂歌，是我们今天得以了解古希腊奥林匹克等运动会的主要文献。在今天，在希腊一个名叫“伊弩森斯”（Oinoussai）的小岛上，一个名叫艾王盖罗斯•昂歌腊克斯（Evangelos E. Angelakos）的希腊人，决心续写这一段两千五百多年前的颂歌历史，他要用品达罗斯时代所运用的语言，给北京2008奥运会谱写一首古希腊语的当代颂歌。
“I was born in the turbulence time when Greece was involved in the Second World War. I was born in March. The Second World War broke out in September. I had memory of the War when I was a child. Just like Chinese people resisting Japanese invasion, we Greek people had very tough and brave resistance to German and Italian army. Greek people had the bravest resistance in the battle field of Europe, and the war in Greece was the most furious. ”
“我出生在希腊被卷入战争的动荡年代，我生于三月，第二次世界大战爆发于九月。很小就有关于战争的记忆。和中国人民顽强抵抗日军一样，我们对德国和意大利军队的入侵进行了艰苦而英勇的抵抗，在欧洲战场上，希腊的抵抗最为勇敢，抵抗战斗也最为惨烈。”
Evangelos E. Angelakos himself is a lively Greek modern history. He likes mathematics and Classical study. He has egregious memory. He remembers news from newspapers about the battle fields in China from his childhood. He remembers reports about Mao Ze-Dong and Chiang Kei-shek at that time. He remembers the month and the year when the New China was established. He has a long last zest for China.
艾王盖罗斯•昂歌腊克斯是一部活的希腊近现代史，喜欢数学和古典学的他，有着惊人的记忆力，他记得童年时代阅读报纸上关于中国战场的消息，记得当时报纸关于毛泽东和蒋介石的报道，知道中国共产党1948年和1949年间取得全面胜利的年份和月份，他对中国的关注有着由来已久的热情。
“We hope for peace. People all over the world hope for peace. From the genesis of ancient Olympic Games, the conception of peace was the most important spiritual mark for ancient Olympic Games. During the Olympic Games at that time, every City-state had an agreement called ‘Holy truce’, no matter what reasons, all wars must cease during ancient Olympic Games, in order to let athletes travel to Olympia safely and Olympic Games conducted successfully.”
“我们希望和平，全世界人民都希望和平，从古希腊奥运会缘起之初，‘和平’的理念就是最为突出的古奥运精神标记。当时希腊各个城邦都要为奥林匹克运动会进行‘神圣的休战’，无论什么理由，所有的战事都会在奥运会期间停止，以保证各个城邦的运动员安全通行和运动会的顺利进行。”
Evangelos E. Angelakos emphasizes the conception of peace. He believes Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will link these two countries with ancient civilization tightly. Both two countries love peace, respect etiquette and emphasize virtue. He accentuates the significance of common idea of “Peace” in the history of the two ancient civilization countries.
昂歌腊克斯着重强调着“和平”的理念，他认为今天北京2008奥运会把希腊和中国，这两个爱好和平、注重礼仪、强调美德的文明古国联系了起来。他强调着“和平”这一共同理念，在希腊和中国这两个东西方文明古国历史上的重要意义。
Greece has hundreds years history for resisting enslavement by others. On the flag of Greece, there is symbolic letter for the oath “free or die”. In Chinese history there is also great chapter for resisting external invasion. Evangelos E. Angelakos agrees this idea: from Chinese history we can see China is one of the countries who love peace and has never pursued invasion. “I think friendship, peace, passion and virtue should be the true spirit for Olympic Games today.” tells us exactly this idea - hope for the whole world peace, yearn for the immutable virtue.
希腊有着数百年反抗外族奴役的历史，在希腊的国旗上，以简洁的字母音节形式象征着涵义为“不自由，毋宁死”的誓言，在中国的历史诗篇上也有着可歌可泣的反抗异族压迫的伟大历史，他认为从整个世界历史可以看出，中国是上最为爱好和平、不事扩张侵略的国家之一。“我认为，友谊、和平、激情和美德，是我们今天奥运应该弘扬的精神。”在《北京2008奥运颂歌》之中，贯穿的正是这样一种对世界和平的期许，对永恒美德的向往。
Evangelos E. Angelakos talked about a very interesting assumption: I asked myself this question, if the Olympic Games are held in Sydney, or Atlanta or at another country, would I have this idea of writing an Ode for that Olympic Games? I think I would probably not. Only in China, only the Olympic Games to be held in this long history and civilization country, inspires me to write an Olympic Ode in ancient Greek language. I met with professor Kagiakes, and let this fantastic idea come true.”
艾王盖罗斯•昂歌腊克斯谈到了一个有趣的假设：“我暗问自己，如果今年是在悉尼、亚特兰大，或者世界其他什么地方举办奥运会，我会产生用古希腊语写一首奥运颂歌的念头么？我想大概不会。只有中国，只有这样一个有着悠久历史和灿烂文化的东方文明古国，只有在这样一个有着爱好和平悠久历史的国家举办奥运会，才会触动、激发我要组织撰写、谱唱一首古希腊语的奥运颂歌的念头。我找到卡伽克斯教授，把我们这样的一个激动人心的想法变成了现实。”
“Let’s look at the map. Our island Oinoussai is located on the cross of Asia and Europe. Many great ship-owners are from our island. Ocean shipping has connected China and our Oinoussai closely. Many islander of Oinoussai had been to China. They can speak out many Chinese port names such as Shang-hai, Da-lian and Qin-huang-dao and so on. They have many lovely stories about China and Chinese people’s hospitality. Everyday we have ocean ship sailing in China costal water. Today, 6th August, I made a phone call check out, several ships from our island are currently berthing in China ports Zhan-jiang and Guang-zhou.”
“从地图上可以看出，我们‘伊弩森斯’岛，处于欧亚交汇的十字架上，我们小岛在历史上出了无数的大船东，远洋船运行业把我们小岛和中国紧密联系了起来。我们岛上的许多人都到过中国，他们可以说出许多上海、大连、秦皇岛等中国港口的名字，我们也请中国帮助我们生产船只，我们岛上的许多人说得出‘江南造船厂’等船厂的名字，他们有许多关于中国、关于善良好客的中国人的美好记忆和故事。我们每日都有远洋货轮运行在中国海域，就是今天，八月六日，我刚打过电话查实，出自我们小岛的几艘远洋货轮还有在中国的湛江和广州停靠、装卸。
Our island Oinoussai is not a big island and soil of our island is not fertility. From ancient time, islander of Oinoussai began to rely on the blue sea, through which we have changed the limited earth into the infinity sea. We do not have the yellow gold, but we have “blue gold” - the blue sea. It is the sea making our small Oinoussai reach to China.
我们的小岛幅员并不广大，土地并不丰产，从古希腊时期开始，我们小岛上的人就通过蓝色的大海，把土地的局限变成了大海的无限。我们没有黄色的金子，但我们有“蓝色的金子”——那就是大海。大海把小小的‘伊弩森斯’和中国联系在了一起。”
Evangelos E. Angelakos comes from a very wealthy family. He could have an easygoing life and enjoy himself. However he was elected as mayor for Oinoussai, and has been reappointed for three times. He has been at the mayor’s position for more than 10 years. He does not rely on the salary of acting as mayor for his life. On the contrary he has even made great dedication and sacrificed himself for this island. He enjoys these dedications and sacrifices.
艾王盖罗斯•昂歌腊克斯本可以过着衣食无忧、独善其身的清闲生活，但他被伊弩森斯岛民推选为当地的市长，至今已经连任三届，超过十年。他并不依靠市长的“俸禄”生活，为小岛的诸项事务，他甚至需要自己各方面的付出、奉献、甚至牺牲。他乐于这样，他在享受着这样的付出和奉献和牺牲。
Talking about the future of China, his words display a broad foresight as a mayor: China is playing a more and more important role in today’s world. This is those who love peace would like to see. China is different from some other countries: China has culture and history. In China, there is wisdom of Lao-zi and Confucius. China has its profound philosophy. In my study room, I have a translated version of the Analects of Confucius which is one of my favorite books. I believe with a more developed and stronger China, China will play an active role for the peace of the whole world.
他谈到中国的未来，显示出了一个市长的宏阔眼光：“中国在今天世界上发挥着越来越重要的作用，这是包括我们希腊人在内的一切热爱和平的人乐于看到的事。中国不同于任何其他逐渐强大的国家，中国有文化、有历史，有孔夫子、老子的智慧，有着深厚的东方哲学积淀，在我的书房里就有翻译过来的孔夫子的《论语》，是我时常翻阅研读的书。我相信中国的逐渐发展和强大，会对世界未来的和平起到积极的作用。”
The brilliant sunshine of Aegean gradually change into moon light of mountain Imydou. Our conversation with Evangelos E. Angelakos had last about five hours. Our conversation is always centered by the keywords - Peace and Virtue. Socrates said: the great happiness of life is talking about virtue all day long. We had a happy and never repeatable afternoon with Mr. Evangelos E. Angelakos.
窗外爱琴海的灿烂阳光逐渐让位给柔和美丽的古伊米杜山上的月光，我们和艾王盖罗斯•昂歌腊克斯的谈话不知不觉进行了五个多小时，谈话的关键词语始终围绕的是“和平”和“美德”。苏格拉底说：“人生的幸福莫过于终日不倦地谈论美德。”我想我们是和艾王盖罗斯•昂歌腊克斯先生度过了一个永远难以重复的幸福的下午。
At last, Evangelos E. Angelakos recited Ode Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in modern and ancient Greek language. His voice cadence rises and falls, full of ancientry and ancient rhyme. This lingering charm is from Pindar, from 2500 years ago. After reciting, he muttered to self: it is only ancient Greek language having more profound lasting appeal. Word form ancient Greek is more meaningful. Do you know that only read in ancient Greek, you can have the feeling of soul quivering and you will have the feeling of fine hair sticking up……
最后，艾王盖罗斯•昂歌腊克斯用古希腊语和现代希腊语朗读了《北京2008奥运颂歌》，他抑扬铿锵的古风古韵中，是来自两千五百多年前的品达罗斯的味道。歌吟完毕，沉吟良久，他兀自感叹道：“还是古希腊语的更有味，古希腊语的词汇意蕴更为深远。你知道么？只有读古希腊语诗歌的时候，你才会有灵魂颤抖的感觉，你的汗毛会倒竖，会有身上发麻的感觉，触电的感觉……”
Evangelos E. Angelakos’ voice rises and falls, full of ancientry and ancient rhyme. He is not a mayor, not Evangelos E. Angelakos himself, not a islander from Oinoussai, and he is also not a Athenian, he is a poet from ancient Greece, he is Pindar himself.
抑扬顿挫声腔中的艾王盖罗斯•昂歌腊克斯，不是艾王盖罗斯•昂歌腊克斯，不是市长；不是“伊弩森斯”人，也不是雅典人，他是古希腊的一位歌者，是品达罗斯本人。
（附）
From Yang Shaobo, September 8, 2008 |
