Dance of Zalongo

Les Femmes souliotes by Ary Scheffer (1795-1858).

The Dance of Zalongo (Greek: Χορός του Ζαλόγγου, Horos tou Zalongou) was a mass suicide of women from Souli and their children during the Souliote War of 1803, near the village of Zalongo in Epirus, in the then-Ottoman Empire. The name also refers to a popular dance-song commemorating the event. There is also a similar Cham Albanian dance-song called Vallja e Zallongut ("Dance of Zalongo").

History

During the Souliote War in December 1803, the Souliotes began evacuating Souli after their defeat by the forces of the local Ottoman-Albanian ruler, Ali Pasha. During the evacuation, a small group of Souliot women and their children were trapped by Ali's troops in the mountains of Zalongo in Epirus. In order to avoid capture and enslavement, the women threw their children first and then themselves off a steep cliff, committing suicide. According to the legend, they jumped down the precipice one after the other while singing and dancing. The incident soon became known across Europe. At the Paris Salon of 1827, the French artist Ary Scheffer exhibited two Romantic paintings, one of which was entitled Les Femme souliotes ("The Souliot Women"). Today, the Zalongo Monument on Mount Zalongo in Kassope commemorates their sacrifice.

Songs

There is a popular Greek dance-song about the event, which is known and danced throughout Greece today. The Greek folk song "Dance of Zalongo" has the following lyrics:

File:Statue of dance of Zalongo.jpg

Monument of Zalongo, commemorating the Dance.

English

Greek

Farewell poor world, Farewell sweet life, and you, my wretched country, Farewell for ever Farewell springs, Valleys, mountains and hills Farewell springs And you, women of Souli The fish cannot live on the land Nor the flower on the sand And the women of Souli Cannot live without freedom Farewell springs, ... The women of Souli Have not only learnt how to survive They also know how to die Not to tolerate slavery Farewell springs, ...

Έχε γεια καημένε κόσμε, έχε γεια γλυκιά ζωή Και ’συ δύστυχη πατρίδα έχε γεια παντοτινή. Έχετε γεια βρυσούλες λόγγοι, βουνά, ραχούλες Έχετε γεια βρυσούλες και σεις Σουλιωτοπούλες Στη στεριά δε ζει το ψάρι ούτ’ ανθός στην αμμουδιά Κι οι Σουλιώτισσες δεν ζούνε δίχως την ελευθεριά. Έχετε γεια βρυσούλες ... Οι Σουλιώτισσες δε μάθαν για να ζούνε μοναχά Ξέρουνε και να πεθαίνουν να μη στέργουν στη σκλαβιά. Έχετε γεια βρυσούλες ...

An Albanian dance-song called Vallja e Zallongut ("Dance of Zalongo") was developed with lyrics that refer to the same aforementioned mass suicide:

Albanian

English

Lamtumirë, o Sul, i shkretë, se po ndahemi per jetë. Lamtumirë, o Sul i shkretë, se na do t’ikim për jetë. Ne po vdesim për liri, se nuk duam skllavëri. Lamtumirë, ju male e fusha, na e punoi Pilo Gusha, I pabesi faqezi, s’pati turp, as perëndi. Lamtumirë, o fusha e male, ne vdesim pa frikë fare. Jemi bila shqipëtare, vdesim duke hedhur valle. Lamtumirë, o Sul i shkretë, lamtumir’ për gjithë jetë.

Goodbye, oh desolate Souli, for we part ways for life. Goodbye, oh desolate Souli, because we will leave forever. But we will die for freedom, because we do not want slavery. Goodbye, oh mountains and valleys, this was done by Pelios Gousis, The wicked scoundrel, had no shame, no god. Goodbye, oh valleys and mountains, We die without fear at all. It’s because we are Albanians, we die by dancing. Goodbye, oh desolate Souli, goodbye for all eternity.