My ‘baby Greek’ textbook, From Alpha to Omega, began every chapter with a fun little phrase in Ancient Greek. These are two I liked:
This one is from Lession 18 (pg. 109)
“νίψον ἀνόμημα μὴ μόναν ὄψιν
(Wash off your sin, not only your face)
–palindrome on a font in the cathedral of the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul”
Palindrome is a Greek word, too– πάλιν is an adverb meaning “back, again, once more” and δραμεῖν (aor. of τρέχειν) is the verb “to run” so a παλίνδρομος is a “running back again” (Liddell & Scott).
This one is from Lesson 49 (pg. 347)
“τὰ δ’ ἄλλα σιγῶ· βοῦς ἐπὶ γλώσσῃ μέγας / βέβηκε
(about the rest, I’m silent– a great ox has stepped on my tongue)
–the palace guard is afraid to say more in Aeschylus’ Agamemnon 36-37″
Apparently Aeschylus is known for his wacky images like this. Sure wish I had the time/opportunity to read the great tragedians in the original– οἴμοι (that was my favorite word in Greek as an undergrad. It means “woe to me!” or “alas!” and is primarily found in Tragedy).