What is "bilitis"

Bilitis can refer to:

• The Songs of Bilitis, collection of erotic poetry by Pierre Louÿs
  • Bilitis, the supposed writer of the poems
• Bilitis (film), a film by David Hamilton
• Daughters of Bilitis, an early American lesbian rights organization

Bilitis is a 1977 French romantic drama film, which was directed by photographer David Hamilton with a music score by Francis Lai. It starred Patti D'Arbanville and Mona Kristensen (Hamilton's first wife) as the title characters Bilitis and Melissa, respectively.

The film was loosely based on a poem cycle by Pierre Louÿs entitled The Songs of Bilitis set in ancient Greece, although the film is set in modern Europe. The poems were meant to be autobiographical poems by the title character.