Dionysios Solomos (1798-1857) was a Greek poet from Zakynthos. He is best known for writing the poem "Hymn to Freedom" (Imnos pros tin Eleftherian) in 1823, of which the first two stanzas became the Greek national anthem.
He was born in 1798 in a wealthy family, and in 1808 went to Italy where he studied Law. After 10 years he returned to Zakynthos with a very good background in literature, and is recognized by a literature society as a poet.
At the end of 1828 he left Zakynthos and settled in Kerkyra in order to dedicate himself in poetry. When he returned from Italy he brought back with him poets with religious content. He later wrote some sonets and at the end some lyric poems. His first long poem was the "Hymn to Freedom".
Dionysios Solomos died in February 1857 from apoplexy. His remainees were transferred to Zakynthos in 1865.
It is worth noting that Solomos became famous as a poet since his youth, and remained popular ever since.
