A short ancient Greek song that spread across Europe nearly 2,000 years ago inspired an innovative educational initiative at the 2nd Primary School of Igoumenitsa.

The project drew on research by Tim Whitmarsh, Professor of Greek Culture at the University of Cambridge. Whitmarsh dated the song to around 2,000 years ago and described it as one of the earliest examples of what could be considered “rock” music.

Archaeologists discovered the lyrics on papyri, graffiti and jewellery across the Mediterranean, demonstrating the song’s wide circulation and popularity in ancient Europe. The work combined poetry and music and served as a form of social expression and communication.

The poem’s verses were also found engraved on a gemstone worn as a necklace by a woman buried in a sarcophagus in present-day Hungary. The artefact is now preserved at the Aquincum Museum.

The lyrics read:

Λέγουσιν (Λένε),

ά θέλουσιν (Τι τους αρέσει)

λεγέτωσαν (Ας το πουν)

ού μέλι μοι (δεν με νοιάζει

σύ φίλι με (Πήγαινε, αγάπα με)

συνφέρι σοι (Σου κάνει καλό)

“Legousin (They say),
ha thelousin (What they like),
legetosan (Let them say it),
ou meli moi (I do not care),
sy phile me (Go, love me),
synferei soi (It benefits you).”

Inspired by the discovery, students created a multimedia Pecha Kucha-style video presentation featuring 20 images displayed for 20 seconds each.

Teacher Eleni Kalampaka, who worked with the students, told Athens-Macedonian News Agency that the aim was to show children that ancient Greek thought remains relevant today and can become a living experience of creativity, dialogue and democracy in the classroom.

The activity began as a classroom exercise and developed into a multidisciplinary project connecting language, music, visual arts, technology, mathematics and physics.

The philosophical ideas of Heraclitus, particularly the concept of constant change expressed in “everything flows”, formed the central inspiration. Students explored the ideas of transformation, participation and democracy, symbolically creating their own “Polity of Flow”.

The project is hosted on the Photodentro I-CREAT platform of Greek Educational Television and received an award from the Ministry of Education for its participation in an educational initiative.