Guardians of Minoan Summer

Original Greek Version

Κουβαλάνε το καύσωνα μαζί τους τα γεράκια.
Μας ξανοίγουν απο ψηλά στα βουνά τα αγρίμια.

Αλλά η ισχυρή Θεά τα πάντα επιβλέπει.
Είτε παιδί, είτε λουλούδι, όλα τα προστατεύει.

Transliteration

Kouvaláne to káfsona mazí tous ta gerákia
Mas xanoígoun apo psilá sta vouná ta agrímia.

Allá i ischyrí Theá ta pánta epivlépei.
Eíte paidí, eíte louloúdi, óla ta prostatévei.

English Version

Falcons¹ bring the heatwaves along with them.
Kri-kri goats² observe us from the mountain.

But our fierce Goddess looks over everything.
She protects it all, flower³ or offspring.

Footnotes

1. Eleonora’s falcons are migratory and arrive in Crete around this time to breed on the coastal cliffs and offshore islets of Crete. As an indigenous Mediterranean raptor, the species has nested along the Aegean for thousands of years.
2. Crete’s famous endemic wild goat. June is a very active time for them.
3. Some of the main flowers on the island around this time are oleander and rockrose.