Mantinades are a form of folk poetry originating in Crete that are expressed in 15-syllable rhyming couplets. They are used by Cretans to express various emotions and have been composed and improvised on different topics throughout history. Competitions for mantinada recitation have become popular in recent efforts to preserve the tradition. A museum dedicated to housing collected mantinades is being established in the village of Korfes.

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2. Gramvousa

8. Mantinades About Love: A yearning in my breast has bloomed, an ever-roaring fire, And every beating of my heart increases my desire.

9. Venetian Fortress in Heraklion, Crete I count the stars in the sky but I’m missing one Because I forgot to count you, my sun!

10. Heraklion If I were a snowflake, my life would be bliss I’d lie on your lips and melt in your kiss!

11. Spinalonga Island If only your heartbeat and breath I could be, So your very existence depended on me.

12. Gramvousa Your eyes are the sea, your face is the sun One smile of yours and Spring will come!

13. Gramvousa Our paths are now sundered but they’ll never be gone As long as I live, the memories live on.

14. Frangokastello Death and separation: they’re only a word apart For both provoke the same pain in a grieving heart.

15. Mantinades About Friendship: I imagined a Spring without any May But never imagined my friends would betray. Rethymnon

16. Balos Humorous Mantinades: I’ll be a hacker of the heart, your hard drive I will crack, And keep you on a CD-ROM so I can play you back!

17. You be the Internet, my baby and I’ll be your webpage When you turn on your PC, I’ll become your homepage!

18. I’m glad to be Cretan, my word I do keep. With mantinades I sing, with mantinades I weep. Mantinades About Crete: Rethymnon

19. The castle of Rethymnon In Crete all men are brave without fears And mantinades express both laughter and tears.

20. Balos The tradition of Crete I support with respect Wherever I go, a Crete I project.

21. "Two Bees", Heraklion Museum, Crete, Greece I hold the earth and scatter it from Psiloritis’ seat And cast it wide so all the world may become like Crete!

22. Balos Oh God, please change the heavens, I humbly do entreat And place the stars all in a row to make the shape of Crete.

23. All we poor students living here, in exile forced to stay Find that Crete is from our thoughts never far away!

24. ΠΡΕΒΕΛΗ, ΡΕΘΥΜΝΟ

25. Heraklion

26. Elafonisi Beach

27. Knossos

28. Knossos Palace (Labyrinth)

29. Agios Nikolaos

30. Balos

31. Balos COPYRIGHTS TO ALL PHOTOS AND MUSIC BELONG TO THE ORIGINAL AUTHORS . You Can Keep Listening To The Music Or Press ‘Esc’ To Exit