Yes, I realize initially that this might not be a terribly interesting or intellectual topic, but I’m having trouble deciding on my next tattoo (I only have one!) and I decided I might ask people what they thought.

I know the vague idea; a quote from an ancient poet in their language — Latin or Greek, depending on the poet. As of now, there are only two poets to choose from, but I may add more later in another post. I wanted to get initial feedback… I won’t be telling you who the quote is by in case it causes any kind of bias.

1) At funeral rites, gifts drenched in a brother’s tears//And forever, brother, greetings and farewell.

2) Evening//you gather back//all that dazzling dawn has put asunder;//you gather a lamb//gather a kid//gather a child to its mother

3) not one girl I think//who looks on the light of the sun//will ever//have wisdom//like this

4) Dead you will lie and never memory of you//will there be nor desire into the aftertime — for you do not share in the roses//of Pieria, but invisible too in Hades’ house//you will go your way among dim shapes. Having been breathed out.

5) mythweaver

6) messenger of spring//nightingale with a voice of longing

7) One should write on the wind and on the running water

I would not think to touch the sky with two arms

9) A sweeter kiss than sweet ambrosia.

10) someone will remember us//I say//even in another time

11) their heart grew cold//they let their wings down

12) of all stars the most beautiful

13) dawn

14) neither for me honey nor the honey bee

15) No faith so great was ever found in any contract//As on my part in love of you

16) stand to face me beloved//and open out the grace of your eyes

17) For the man who is beautiful is beautiful to see//but the good man will at once also beautiful be.

18) paingiver

19) I long and seek after

20) but me you have forgotten

So. Let me know what you think; don’t worry, though, I won’t be deciding based solely on the opinions of others, I’m just curious to see what other people like.

Thought I’d do a fun post to start off with — a movie meme. Hope I haven’t made things too obscure.

1) Pick 15 of your favourite movies.
2) Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.
3) Post them here for everyone to guess.
4) Fill in the film title once it’s guessed.

Okay, wait, I have far too many movies I want to do… 31 so far! 35 now! Le sigh, must cut them down… 32, 29, 27, 26… can’t get rid of any more, so I’ll just do 26! Good god!

1) I don’t want to play the gender card right now. You want to play a card, let’s play the “let’s not die” card.

2) Draw sounds? Yes, I can draw sounds… and I can speak them back. Thirteenth Warrior — siuilaruin

3) I just want you to feel you’re doing well. I hate for people to die embarrassed. Princess Bride — siuilaruin

4) Your men love you. If I knew nothing else about you, that would be enough. A Knght’s Tale — siuilaruin

5) We may not have a woodshed on board, but that boy is gonna get a whuppin’ anyway!

6) I mean, everlasting life? I imagine it would be kind of lonely. Well, maybe if you had someone to share it with. Someone you loved. Then it might be different. Stardust — siuilaruin

7) Is it true that there’s a point on a man’s head where if you shoot it, it will blow up?

What who said. The one with the moustache, the one you’re married to.

9) Look! I have one job on this lousy ship, it’s *stupid*, but I’m gonna do it! Okay? Galaxy Quest — siuilaruin

10) Welcome the rich man, he’s hard for you to miss. His butt keeps getting bigger, so there’s plenty there to kiss!

11) You pair of deuces lookin’ for work, I suggest you get your scrawny asses in here pronto.

12) Cars pick the driver. It’s a mystical bond between man and machine. Transformers — siuilaruin

13) Boy, it sure would be nice if we had some grenades, don’t you think?

14) For a second there, I actually thought you were gonna eat me.

15) But I think I speak for all of us when I say that we want nothing to do with anything that’s over that hedge. Over the Hedge — siuilaruin

16) I think you have strength, of a different kind. And one day your father will see it. Return of the King — Fork Knocks

17) Whoa, lady, I only speak two languages, English and bad English.

18) Honey, it took me five years to realize you were flirting! Hairspray — Friya

19) Water is powerful. It can wash away earth, put out fire, and even destroy iron. Memoirs of a Geisha — Friya

20) No matter how long it takes, no matter how far, I will find you. Last of the Mohicans — siuilaruin

21) Like the weapons of the previous century, we, too, would become obsolete. Pity, because I lived for it.

22) Out of order? FUCK! Even in the future, nothing works!

23) You’re wearing that hat? After all the magic I used to make your dress pretty?

24) You know what the dead do with most of their time? They watch the living. Especially in the shower. Dogma — siuilaruin

25) Well, you gave one man back his life but did you even glance at the others?

26) There’s nothing to see. I used to live here, you know. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi — Fort Knocks

Okay, so, have a go guys! You know, if you want.

ETA: And J darling, I never said they were good movies! Just that they’re my favourites!

So.

Hi guys! So, this is obviously my first post, and I know some people may be kind of curious about my username and the title and subtitle of my blog. The ‘about’ page has a little background about me, so I won’t bother boring you with that.

Right, well, username. I’m a very organized person and I like things like this to have meaning to them, and since I’m fascinated with and studying the ancient world, that’s where most of my inspiration comes from — although this blog is definitely not going to be all about the ancient world! The name ‘Orithyia’ comes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. For those who don’t know, Ovid is an ancient Roman poet who wrote mostly during the Emperor Augustus’ reign which covered the turn of the millennium.

In the Metamorphoses Ovid groups together, in 16 books, many different myths, all of which involve, as the title would suggest, a transformation of some kind — mostly of a human or humanoid (sometimes there are nymphs or dryads!) into another creature. The story of Orithyia and Boreas is one such tale. Orithyia was one of the four daughters of Erechtheus, king of Athens, and she was, naturally, very beautiful, and beloved by the North wind, Boreas. Unfortunately, Boreas hated the Thracians, whom enjoyed an alliance with Athens — this delayed his suit for quite some time. He gently wooed Orithyia, but failed, and so became angry, and thus kidnapped her. She then bore him two sons, Zetes and Calais, who later grew wings (the transformation!) and joined the Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece.

That’s the story; as to my reasons for choosing her name to be mine, well, I happen to be absolutely in love with the idea of flying and of having wings (I love Warren in X-Men 3!) and I also found her name to be very pretty.

Moving on to the title; this’ll make my friends laugh. Aphatos is the ancient Greek word for ’speechless’. I hope they appreciate the irony; I talk a hell of a lot, you see. I wanted to inject a little comedy there, and I like the word, and I also wanted the connection to the ancient world.

Finally, the subtitle. These words are not mine; this is a quote from Sappho, a very famous ancient Greek poetess who lived on the island of Lesbos, and was in love with, from what scholars can tell, a fair number of girls. I think, perhaps, that this is the origination of the word ‘lesbian’.

Also, the image I have input into the header is in keeping with the ancient theme, in a way, in that it is a photo of the Turquois Myrtos Beach on the Greek island of Kefalonia. Beautiful, isn’t it? Please, let me know what you think — does it look alright on this page? I’m unsure.

I think that might be enough for an introductory post.