"If you gods can give all things, may I have as my wife, I pray... one like the ivorymaiden." ~Pygmalion
Pygmalion, the mythical king of Cyprus, had many problems when datingwomen. He always seemed to accept dates from the wrong women.
Some were rude,others were selfish; he was revolted by the faults nature had placed in these women. Itleft him feeling very depressed. He eventually came to despise the female gender somuch that he decided he would never marry any maiden.
For comfort and solace, heturned to the arts, finding his talent in sculpture. Using exquisite skills, he carved astatute out of ivory that was so resplendent and delicate no maiden could compare withits beauty. This statute was the perfect resemblance of a living maiden.
Pygmalion fellin love with his creation and often laid his had upon the ivory statute as if to reassurehimself it was not living. He named the ivory maiden Galatea and adorned her lovelyfigure with women's robes and placed rings on her fingers and jewels about her neck.
At the festival of Aphrodite, which was celebrated with great relish throughout allof Cyprus, lonely Pygmalion lamented his situation. When the time came for him to playhis part in the processional, Pygmalion stood by the altar and humbly prayed: "If yougods can give all things, may I have as my wife, I pray..." he did not dare say "the ivorymaiden" but instead said: "one like the ivory maiden." Aphrodite, who also attended thefestival, heard his plea and she also knew of the thought he had wanted to utter.
Showingher favor, she caused the altar's flame to flare up three times, shooting a long flame offire into the still air. After the day's festivities, Pygmalion returned home and kissed Galatea as washis custom. At the warmth of her kiss, he started as if stung by a hornet.
The arms that were ivory now felt soft to his touch and when he softly pressed her neck the veinsthrobbed with life. Humbly raising her eyes, the maiden saw Pygmalion and the light ofday simultaneously.
Aphrodite blessed the happiness and union of this couple with achild.
Pygmalion and Galatea named the child Paphos, for which the city is known untilthis day.
