Dance of Zalongo
Encyclopedia
The term Dance of Zalongo refers to an event in Greek
history involving a mass suicide of women from Souli
and their children during the Souliote war of 1803, near the village of Zalongo
in Epirus
. The name also refers to popular dance song commemorating the event. The same event made and impact in Albania
n history. There is also an Albanian song and dance on the same topic, called Vaji i Zallogut ("Dance of Zalongo")
During the Souliote War in December 1803, the Souliotes began evacuating Souli after their defeat by Ali Pasha
's forces. During the evacuation, a small group of Souliot women and their children were trapped by Ottoman
troops in the mountains of Zalongo
in Epirus
. In order to avoid capture and enslavement, the women threw first their children 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, a monument on the site of Mount Zalongo in Kassope commemorates their sacrifice.
The following is an Albanian song and dance on the same topic, called Vaji i Zallogut ("Dance of Zalongo")
Dhespo is the wife of Giorgos Botsaris and Mosko
was the wife of Lambros Tzavelas.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
history involving a mass suicide of women from Souli
Souli
Souli is a municipality in Epirus, northwestern Greece. It was originally settled by both Greek and Albanian refugees who were hunted by the Ottomans in Thesprotia, Greece and Laberia, Albania. In early modern times, it was inhabited by about 12,000 Souliotes. After their expulsion the population...
and their children during the Souliote war of 1803, near the village of Zalongo
Zalongo
Zalongo is a former municipality in the Preveza peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Preveza, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 5,043 . The seat of the municipality was in Kanali. Nearby is the 18th century Zalongo...
in Epirus
Epirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
. The name also refers to popular dance song commemorating the event. The same event made and impact in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n history. There is also an Albanian song and dance on the same topic, called Vaji i Zallogut ("Dance of Zalongo")
History
Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha of Tepelena or of Yannina, surnamed Aslan, "the Lion", or the "Lion of Yannina", Ali Pashë Tepelena was an Ottoman Albanian ruler of the western part of Rumelia, the Ottoman Empire's European territory which was also called Pashalik of Yanina. His court was in Ioannina...
's forces. During the evacuation, a small group of Souliot women and their children were trapped by Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
troops in the mountains of Zalongo
Zalongo
Zalongo is a former municipality in the Preveza peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Preveza, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 5,043 . The seat of the municipality was in Kanali. Nearby is the 18th century Zalongo...
in Epirus
Epirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
. In order to avoid capture and enslavement, the women threw first their children 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
Paris Salon
The Salon , or rarely Paris Salon , beginning in 1725 was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Between 1748–1890 it was the greatest annual or biannual art event in the Western world...
of 1827, the French artist Ary Scheffer
Ary Scheffer
Ary Scheffer , French painter of Dutch and German extraction, was born in Dordrecht.-Life:After the early death of his father Johann Baptist, a poor painter, Ary's mother Cornelia, herself a painter and daughter of landscapist Arie Lamme, took him to Paris and placed him in the studio of...
exhibited two Romantic
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
paintings, one of which was entitled Les Femme souliotes ("The Souliot Women"). Today, a monument on the site of 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:| English | Greek |
|---|---|
Farewell poor world, Farewell sweet life, and you, my poor 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 ... |
The following is an Albanian song and dance on the same topic, called Vaji i Zallogut ("Dance of Zalongo")
| English | Albanian |
|---|---|
Mosko afoot, has left her baby in the ground, Hits this woman, this brave woman, Her gun and cannon everything scares. "Look here girls, how close they are!" Even walls became ash, but Dhespo as always stands up, To her girls speaks, with voice and calamity. "Girls, slaves of the Turkish can we be? Follow me, girls, our place is down there!" |
Moskua në këmbë, foshnjën përdhe ka lënë, Qëllon a s’qëllon kjo grua, deli grua, Pushka top gjithçka zhurit. "Vështrojuni një çikë more, si jeni bërë meit!" Edhe muret u bënë hi, po Dhespua përherë në këmbë, Nuseve ç’u thërret, me zë e me gjëmë. “Skllave të turkut bija, a mund të bëhemi ne? Pas meje, mori nuse, vendin e kemi atje!" |
Dhespo is the wife of Giorgos Botsaris and Mosko
Moscho Tzavela
Moscho Tzavela was a Souliote heroine of the years before the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence, who has been mentioned in modern Greek and Albanian literature....
was the wife of Lambros Tzavelas.