I want to get a tatoo...... [Archive]

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Empedocles

02-20-2009, 19:00

and I thought it would be cool to write something in latin, so I thought this would be the best place to get some tips. (I know this is not the best place, but it's the best I know of :book:)

I understand that when the roman generals earned their triumph they entered the city with a slave behind him repeating the phrase "Memento mori" (remember you are a mortal) and holding a crown over his head but not touching it.

is this right?

I seem to recall that another phrase was pronounced after that one sayng that "all glory is fleeting". is this true? if it is, which is the latin translation?

Another possibility (according to google) would be "All glory is ephemeral"

Would anyone be so kind as to help me?

Thanks!

PS: Some possibilities I Found:

1.-Sic transit gloria mundi
2.-Sic transit gloria

Subotan

02-20-2009, 19:25

Quisque est Barbarus Alio.
'Nuff said.

tsidneku

02-20-2009, 19:34

Sic transit gloria mundi literally translates to "Thus, [all] the glory of the world flees/crosses" -- in english, we can translate it idiomatically to fleeting.

Many classical phrases (Graeco-Latin ones) are shortened and that might be where you get "Sic gloria transit."

Sarkiss

02-20-2009, 20:45

Empe, are you getting a permanent one?

Βελισάριος

02-20-2009, 21:03

Quisque est Barbarus Alio.
'Nuff said.

Hear-hear!

Otherwise, let's see some classics:
"Veni, vidi, vici"
Or... my version: "Vidi, vici... veni" (I saw, I conquered, I came :clown:)
"Fortune plango vulnera" (I bemoan the wounds of Fortune) medieval Latin, but still... it's the title of the second aria in Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana". You may know "O Fortuna" that one also has amazing lyrics.
"Civis Romanus sum" (I am a Roman citizen)

tapanojum

02-20-2009, 21:12

Great thread, as I wanted to get a Tat in Latin or Greek as well, but I am nothing more than a fan of this Mod, and a light fan of ancient history.

"Memento mori" / Remember you are a Mortal?

So was this correct?

Aemilius Paulus

02-21-2009, 01:47

Alright, sorry to be such an arse, but I beg you to reconsider, if it is a permanent tattoo as you seem to suggest. How old are you, if I may inquire? Because one hears the same story with just about every person who gets a tattoo in a visible place. Right now you may think it is all swell and dandy, but in ten years you are going to regret that day.

But if you are so hell-bent on getting one, then may I suggest Roma Victrix or Roma Invicta (Rome the victorious or Rome, the unconquered/able? That is what I would do. Then again, I am a major Roman fanboy. :juggle2: I do not know if you are the same. Also, what about "Virtus et Honor" (strength and honour)? Finally, if you really want to find somethign interesting, follow this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Latin_phrases_%28A-B%29#A) Wikipedia link which has innumerable pages full of Latin phrases, from which you can select a one that would suit your tastes. Because really, we cannot tell you what you like. It should be a personal decision.

*scurries away before satalexton impales me on a doru*

Nachtmeister

02-21-2009, 10:57

Bah, no - go with something simple and stylish, if a bit *aggressive*:
"SPQR" on your shoulder, right where the national flag is placed on modern uniforms,
marks you as a roman legionary. But only do that if you have already served as a real soldier.
I would not get myself a latin phrase unless it is a true wisdom that is also applicable (and not strictly negative) to romance and stylish hotel rooms and other things of female interest (hey don't call me a sexist, just going by empiric experience here and there are always exceptions of course)... The day will come when you want to do something private with a female and you don't want to be worried that she'll laugh at - or worse - be turned off by the tattoo. "Roma victa"... very bookish, very military-historian - but not very sexy. Unless you get insanely lucky and find one who is actually into this kind of thing. But then she would be wearing a corinthian helmet and thus could not see the tattoo anyway. In all other cases, you want to stay mainstream-compatible!

soup_alex

02-21-2009, 11:44

Right now you may think it is all swell and dandy, but in ten years you are going to regret that day.
Especially if the tattooist bungles it and you end up with "GENERATION TERRORSIT".

Empedocles

02-22-2009, 00:33

guys. it will be a permanent one in my right heel. I'm 26 by the way from Argentina and a recently graduated accountant, so I can not say this is a teenager impulse.
The reason why I choose this prhrase is because:

a) it has something to do with the romans (I am descendent of italians, but wtf!!!)
b) it has a more "permanent" meaning than other propositions. "SPQR, Roma Victrix, etc" are too "WAR IS FUNNY! LETS MAKE WAR" type of thought.(which is not).
This phrase reminds me of the more popular "Carpe Diem" because it means that all things must come to pass and you have to enjoy every moment life gives you. the good ones and the bad ones.

I hope you understand what I mean.

It will be "Sic Transit gloria Mundi" then. But I am still open to suggestion. Now I have to find a cool font.

regards

kdub22

02-22-2009, 00:52

Alea Iacta Est - The Die Is/Has Been Cast

Nachtmeister

02-22-2009, 01:07

"Sic transit gloria mundi" is, I believe, not suitable for application as a common "wisdom"; it sounds more like a standardised phrase to be used as a comment when prompted by an appropriate cue. You could say that when you see george bush on tv getting strapped to the electric chair or a similar example of extreme downfall from a high (=>"glorious") position. That would then either sound very witty of you or it would at the very least let everyone with basic latin school experience know that you did your homework diligently.
So getting a tattoo with it is somewhat self-humiliating as it would then denote you as an *example* of worldly glory passing away.
Thus, while not having a better suggestion apart from the one made above, I advise specifically against "sic transit gloria mundi".

cmacq

02-22-2009, 01:15

Oil so, trail mé fan - Here marked, a slave I stay

CmacQ

Nachtmeister

02-22-2009, 02:40

Oil so, trail mé fan - Here marked, a slave I remain

CmacQ

:laugh4: I like that one - might actually consider getting a tattoo myself now... :whip:
But that is not Latin, is it...? Looks more like... French?

"Hic signatus, servus maneo" (unsure about grammar due to long Time without Latin) would be
a literal translation... Somehow the "French" sounds better. Hey look, this is coming from a Germano-Briton! Europe is finally making some serious progress! :clown:

jerjes78

02-22-2009, 02:43

Hey diego, You should try this: Romani ite domum

:laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:

PS: Monty Python rules :2thumbsup:

Empedocles

02-22-2009, 04:42

Hey diego, You should try this: Romani ite domum

:laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:

PS: Monty Python rules :2thumbsup:

jjajajaja. good to see you around. I will stick to my original idea....though everybody is now advicing against the tatoo now....:furious3:

ezekiel2517

02-22-2009, 07:48

jjajajaja. good to see you around. I will stick to my original idea....though everybody is now advicing against the tatoo now....:furious3:

if you require something to remind you of the need to live every day at it's best, why not make a car sticker with the same thing? you will even get to change it often as your mood suits you.

It is a small example but i really think that getting a tattoo, in general (specially if it is something just to be remembered), is like taking a loan to get some nifty, fancy toy; Pretty cool at first, but in the end you will have to pay more than what it is worth.

Si realmente lo quieres, lo que yo diga no importa y disfruta tu tatuaje :beam:

cmacq

02-22-2009, 09:57

:laugh4: I like that one - might actually consider getting a tattoo myself now... :whip:
But that is not Latin, is it...? Looks more like... French?

"Hic signatus, servus maneo" (unsure about grammar due to long Time without Latin) would be
a literal translation... Somehow the "French" sounds better. Hey look, this is coming from a Germano-Briton! Europe is finally making some serious progress! :clown:

Its actually Scotts Gaelic.

CmacQ

Nachtmeister

02-22-2009, 10:15

Its actually Scotts Gaelic.

CmacQ

...*Whupps* --- There I go calling myself a Briton - and then I fail to recognize Gaelic...:embarassed:
Big mistake... :sweatdrop:
I suppose it's high time that I begin learning some Gaelic. Can't let that language die out anyway.
Could you point me to something (book, website, anything that does not require attending classes but does pay careful attention to pronounciation) that I could use as a starting resource?

Skullheadhq

02-22-2009, 12:14

Veni, Vidi, Vomui
I came, I saw, I threw up

Subotan

02-22-2009, 12:17

Veni, Vidi, Vomui
I came, I saw, I threw up

THIS
Also, it would be an interesting conversation starter with girls.

Husker98

02-22-2009, 13:16

Veni, Vidi, Vomui
I came, I saw, I threw up

winner

Sarcasm

02-22-2009, 16:25

Tiberius Claudius Marcellus

02-22-2009, 16:38

Interesting idea, the Latin/Greek tat......

As one who has tattoos, I do suggest that you make it meaningful to yourself because you will most likely have this for the rest of your life. Also, the placement of it is important as well, as you may be disqualified from some jobs because employers will require a certain dress code/appearance. What may be "sweet" now, may harm you financially in the future.

As a former Marine tanker I have a sabot round tatooed on my left forearm from my elbow to my wrist with .50 cal machine gun bullets linked around it (every 5th one a tracer round, of course). It was bad ass when I got it and it still is because who wants to mess with a 6'4" 250 lb guy with bullets tattooed on him, you know? Unfortunately, at work or company events outside of work I must always wear long sleeves to hide it because it is "unprofessional".

As far as what phrase you choose, again, make it meaningful. On my right shoulder, back side I have "Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria Mori" (It is a sweet and seemly thing to give one's life for one's country) in a ribbon above a soldier's memorial (boots, inverted rifle, dog tags, helmet) with another ribbon saying "Mortui Tantum Terminem Belli Viderunt" (Only the dead have seen the end of war). This, for me, honors my fellow service members who gave their lives in battle, but also reminds me that war will always be with us in this world.

In short, don't make it something you'll regret. It can be a great conversation starter and can be an excellent expression of emotion or intellectual depth.

machinor

02-22-2009, 17:37

One of my favourite Latin expressions is "cum grano salis", meaning "with a grain of salt". This means that something is not to be taken literal but with humor. Can be applied to life: take it with humor, to spice things up a little.

zooeyglass

02-23-2009, 15:17

Oil so, trail mé fan - Here marked, a slave I stay

CmacQ

my nod goes to this one - excellent line, gratefully read. :)

Rilder

02-23-2009, 17:47

One of these days I'mma get a EB tattoo, probably one of the Pontos, KH and Roman shield images from EB and the "Quisque Est barbarus Alio" Phrase since I use that phrase way to much and it makes me want to learn latin :|

Connacht

02-23-2009, 22:28

The real EB phrase however should be "Quisque est barbarus alii" if I am not wrong.

Anyway, here are a lot of Latin proverbs:

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Latin_proverbs

I suggest these ones:

Age quod agis
"Do what you do", in the sense of "Do well what you do", "Do well in whatever you do" or "Be serious in what you do"

Cedo nulli
"I yield to no one."

Deo Vindice. (only if you're a Christian, I am not but I think that if you are you might like it)
"[With] God as [our] protector"

Docendo discimus.
"We learn by teaching"

Esse quam videri
"To be, rather than to seem"

Estote parati
"Be prepared"

Homo sui iuris.
"Man [is] his own judge."

Nulli Secundus.
"Second to none."

Perge modo
"Only go on." - the equivalent of the colloquial 'suck it up'

Via, Veritas, Vita
"The Way, the Truth and the Life."

Vive Ut Vitas
"Live, so that you may live." or "Live life to the fullest."

Da mihi sis bubulae frustrum assae, solana tuberosa in modo gallico fricta, ac quassum lactatum coagulatum crassum.
"Give me a hamburger, french fries, and a thick shake."

SwissBarbar

02-24-2009, 09:18

Da mihi sis bubulae frustrum assae, solana tuberosa in modo gallico fricta, ac quassum lactatum coagulatum crassum.
"Give me a hamburger, french fries, and a thick shake."

Bwaaahahahaa, I'll try that next time in MacDonalds.

Why don't you tatoo "Cave canem !" - Beware of the Dog , which indicates that you will bite every one in the leg if he comes near and is no friend - or you have a bad day.

"Habemus papam qui sibi imposuit nomen (enter your name)" - We have a pope, who chose the name (your name) :laugh4:

(enter your name) locuta, causa finita - (your name) has spoken, case closed! :deal:

The Fuzz

02-24-2009, 19:29

My girlfriend wants to get 'sic transit gloria' tattooed as well.

*feels weird*

Empedocles, are you my girlfriend?

Anyone remember the latin for that Kingdom of Heaven quote? "Such as we are, you will be." That'd be a cool tattoo. I've been thinking of getting a Bactrian-themed tattoo.. or something sorta ancient Central Asian.

SwissBarbar

02-25-2009, 14:22

Potato-headed Bactrian Bakteria pursue baker-legged peasants bunkering Beans' pankakes besides Persepolis.

The Fuzz

02-25-2009, 22:13

I like it

Megas Methuselah

02-26-2009, 05:14

Man, I want a tatoo of a humble Latin quote now. That's pretty neat.

V.T. Marvin

02-26-2009, 11:01

Man, I want a tatoo of a humble Latin quote now. That's pretty neat.

What about: "EB Taberna - societas nobilissima" :clown:

Empedocles

02-27-2009, 00:51

Cyclops

02-27-2009, 06:29

Sic Vita Est-Such is life (attributed last words in English of famous Australian outlaw Ned Kelly).

There's obviously a bunch of famous Latin literary quotes like Carpe Diem (seize the day), Caveat lector (reader beware-its a sort of threat to anyone looking at you) and so on. Maybe a nice quote from Virgil?

..."Memento mori" / Remember you are a Mortal?...

What about Memento Wombli, wots that mean?

Nachtmeister

02-27-2009, 14:42

What about Memento Wombli, wots that mean?

Dunno, maybe "remember how your mother looked from the inside"? =>WOMB-li
This would not be actual latin, however... But it would be as close as you can get to an opposite of "memento mori" with only a slight alteration of vocabulary.

Cyclops

03-01-2009, 22:25

Dunno, maybe "remember how your mother looked from the inside"? =>WOMB-li
This would not be actual latin, however... But it would be as close as you can get to an opposite of "memento mori" with only a slight alteration of vocabulary.

Hmmm. Wot about Memento Tober-Mori?

cmacq

03-02-2009, 06:28

OK, then 'Tobar-nan-ceann?'

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=1010

But I've heard it as 'Well of the Seven Head.' A nice little story

CmacQ

Cyclops

03-02-2009, 22:47

... 'Well of the Seven Head.'...

I'm trying for a cute little Wombles joke (and I can't blame the German fella for not getting a 1970's UK reference) and you have to make it about severed heads.:scared::skull:

Whats the story?

cmacq

03-02-2009, 23:55

Just a relative of one long-gone Major-General Lachlan Macquarie. He, a man from a cold dark place where hued into each wooden face, were all the proper size and shape, to hold a severed human soul. These the final resting-place, for parting-gifts dearly-given, by any foes with more fight and an end in sight, than common sense can bear.

Wee Wombles indeed!

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:g8eYGTsv8MvROM::http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2008/04/Wombles_450x350.jpg

Aye, finally, you want the seven head story?

CmacQ

cmacq

03-04-2009, 03:49

'Tobar-nan-ceann' 'Well of Heads'

The Tobar-nan-ceann monument is about 1.8 kilometres south of Invergarry, on the western side of Loch Oich. It was erected by Colonel mac Donnel of Glengarry in 1812. The monument sits atop the spring, and commemorates an event that occured in 1663. The very short of it is, as tradition tells a Keppoch Chief named Donald Glas, sent his two young sons to France to be educated, but died in their absence. On the sons, Alastair and Ranald's return they were murdered, in September of 1663. This occured during a quarrel with an uncle and his six sons, who immedately took possession of their land. No one was disposed to address the crime: only the poet, lain Lom, seemed outraged and he alone exerted himself to induce some one of authority to take the matter up. At last he enlisted the help of Glengarry who just had been elevated to the peerage as Lord MacDonell and Aros.

Lord MacDonell rasied a company of sixty foot and sent them to Brac Lochaber to collect, one way or another, the murderes. The murderers were attacked in their house, unduced to flee it by fire, captured, then slain each and all. By tradition after they had be executed their heads were removed from their bodies and placed in a large bag. For a reason I will not disclose (which by the way is why this story is so memorable), upon passing the severed heads were washed in this spring, before being taken to the above Chief who at the time was in Invergarry. Ever since this event, the spring had been known as 'Tobar-nan-ceann', or 'The Well of Heads'. Others know it as 'Well of the Seven Heads.'

The Gaelic inscription posted on the monument reads; "As a memorial of the ample and summary vengeance which, in the swift course of feudal justice, inflicted by the orders of the Lord McDonell and Aross, overtook the perpetrators of the foul murder of the Keppoch family, a branch of the powerful and illustrious clan of which his lordship was the Chief, this monument is erected by Colonel McDonell of Glengarry, XVII. Mac-Mhic-Alaister, his successor and representative, in the year of our Lord 1812. The heads of the seven murderers were presented at the feet of the noble chief in Glengarry Castle, after having been washed in this spring, and ever since that event, which took place early in the sixteenth century, it has been known by the name of ‘Tobar-nan-ceann,’ or ‘The Well of the Heads.’ "
---------------------------------------------------------------

I know the inscription is not totally factual.
And thats the story.

CmacQ

Cyclops

03-10-2009, 03:01

Thats quite a story, thanks for that. I think an image of the heads and the scots gaelic inscription "Tobar-nan-ceann" would make a killer tattoo.

It is a somewhat more civilised echo of the old "Cawnpore Well" tattoo sported by British forces in the sub-continent (apparently as late as WW2).

cmacq

03-10-2009, 05:19

Indeed, women and children; they used the Highlanders fresh from the Crimea, under Campbell to help set this grievous wrong, to right. And... my concept of what is right and wrong, may not be the same as that held by the more gentle reader.

CmacQ

gammager2

03-10-2009, 23:54

Esse quam videri
"To be, rather than to seem"

saw the thread and thought "NORTH CAROLINA MOTTO FTW!!"

p.s i'd get something in greek or another language with character that are unrecognizable to most people so you dont have to worry about being made fun of for having a tattoo because no one will know what it is, like Sparta (Σπάρτα) or some other classical word. that said, i challenge anyone to make fun of a sparta tattoo