Inspiration pills 1. Seikilos Epitaph

The oldest complete song ever found is the Seikilos Epitaph, a beautiful Ancient Greek song written in stone that celebrates life and joy.

Since both its words and music sheet have arrived intact to this day, you can actually learn and listen to the oldest complete song today!
It has been dated to have been created between the 1st or 2nd century CE.
The Hurrian Hymns are pre-dating even Seikilos Epitaph, but they are, alas, just fragments, so Seikilos' record still stands.

 

 

LYRICS «Ὅσον ζῇς φαίνου· μηδὲν ὅλως σὺ λυποῦ· πρὸς ὀλίγον ἐστὶ τὸ ζῆν. τὸ τέλος ὁ χρόνος ἀπαιτεῖ.»

TRANSCRIPT «Hòson zḕs, phàinū: mēdèn hòlōs sỳ lypū̀; pròs olìgon estì tò zḕn tò tèlos ho chrònos apaitèi.»

TRANSLATION «As long as you're alive, shine,  don't be sad at all;  life is short, time asks for its  due.»

 

(Questa pillola d'ispirazione sarebbe più digeribile in italiano, viandante? Puoi trovarla QUI!).