the song of achilles — madeline miller

night shift — stephen king

euripedes — anne carson

circe — madeline miller

a conjuring of light — v.e. schwab

west wind — mary oliver

the song of achilles — madeline miller

the fragile threads of power — v.e. schwab

I long to draw a ‘never love an anchor’ animatic about the House of Atreus, but my art skills are too lacking for it to be a reality…😭

Pylades: Text me when you’re home safely. Orestes: I’m home dangerously. Pylades: Stop it. Orestes: I’m home lethally.

sold

I took a video of this piece back when I first got it out of the kiln, early 2021.

Orestes & Pylades or The San Ildefonso Group

why do you, as a man, have hands??? to care for other men?? even if it’s rotten work??? what, is it not to you, not if it’s him?

Not to me. Not if it’s you

no one did bury your gays better than the greeks

Bill POV here

United in Battle Through the Crisis

Orestes and Pylades are renowned figures in Greek mythology and literature, often depicted as the epitome of deep friendship and loyalty. They appear in various ancient works, notably in the tragedies of Euripides, and their story is intricately linked to the complex and tragic narrative of the House of Atreus.

Orestes was the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, central figures in the saga of the Trojan War and its aftermath. Pylades, the son of King Strophius of Phocis and nephew to Clytemnestra, was Orestes' cousin. Their friendship commenced in their youth when Orestes was sent to Strophius for protection following the murder of his father Agamemnon by Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus.

Their relationship is often portrayed as the ideal of ancient Greek friendship and loyalty. They support each other in times of difficulty and danger, prominently displayed in the story of Orestes' vengeance for his father's murder. Pylades accompanied Orestes on his return to Mycenae to kill his mother Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, an act seen as righteous vengeance but one that plunged Orestes into deep despair and madness.

In Euripides' tragedy "Orestes," Pylades' unwavering support and compassion for Orestes are highlighted, especially as Orestes is tormented by the Furies. Pylades speaks little in this play, but his constant presence by Orestes' side during his tribulations exhibits his profound connection and loyalty.

The relationship between Orestes and Pylades has been idealized in later literary and artistic works, often symbolizing true friendship and devotion. In some interpretations, their relationship is also seen as romantic or erotic, though this is not explicitly stated in ancient sources. Their story exemplifies how friendship and loyalty were highly valued in Greek mythology and culture, considered essential elements of human relationships.

Text supported by Chat GPT-4 Images generated with DALL-E, overworked SDXL-1.0 (OpenDalleV1.1_XL) with inpainting and composing.

Pylades: I'm going to fight the next person who insults my pal Orestes! Orestes: I hate myself. Pylades: Alright, square up, pal

“Happy pride to Achilles and Patroclus only” WRONG happy pride to Orestes and Pylades as well

Thinking about Pylades in Aeschylus’s Libation Bearers… what it must be to accompany and watch as your best friend/lover/foster brother, who you grew up with, witness to his resentment and trauma at being sent away from his home - “sold” in his words- by his mother to keep him out of the hands of her lover and his usurper, and witness to him growing up, fatherless, motherless in every way that mattered, clinging to the threadbare scraps of textile bearing animals woven by his sister, the remnant of his family, and then going with him to his father’s grave, with him for the reunion to his sister - that bittersweet joy. With him for the treachery to get into the house, seeing the crocodile tears and overacting of his mother at her boy’s alleged death, seeing the real anguish of his childhood nurse, knowing now where the real love in this household had been. Pylades, with him in killing Aegisthus. And then, when he fights his mother, finally, finally lodging every long-stewed complaint harbored against her, Orestes turns and ask Pylades what to do, should he kill her or not? And Pylades stops and thinks, and while he says it is Apollo speaking through him, it is also a memory of every tear Orestes shed, every bitter ritual of his ascent to manhood unwitnessed by either father or mother. And Pylades has not complicated yearning for this mother’s love, his grievances with her are all on Orestes’ behalf and his mind is clear. And so he speaks, ostensibly for Apollo, but from his own heart.

Electra, holding a phone: It’s your boyfriend.

Orestes, taking it: He’s not my boyfriend.

Orestes, answering: Hey, babe.

By the way, while I’m talking about one kf my fav greek ships (Orestes and Pylades) I hope the greeks believed in polygamy or smth because Orestes has to marry Hermoine. Is she his cousin? Yes (but isn’t Pylades like also a cousin??? wtv). Is that kinda gross? Yes. Is he gay? Hell yes. Are we gonna let her stay married to murderous rapist dickwad Pyrrus or however you spell his fucking name? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Okay then. That’s what i thought.