- Pygmalion and Galatea is a story from Greek Mythology made famous by Ovid in Book X of Metamorphoses.
- Pygmalion was a king and sculptor in Cyprus who carved a statue of such a beautiful woman, that he fell in love with the statue.
Ovid’s Story
- Pygmalion carved a woman from Ivory of such great beauty, that he turned away from women and fell in love with the statue which he named Galatea.
- On the Festival of Aphrodite he made an offering at her Altar, whilst secretly wishing for a Bride to be as beautiful as his ivory statue.
- Upon returning home, he kissed the ivory statue and was astonished to find the lips were warm. Aphrodite had decided to grant Pygmalion’s wish and change the statue into a woman.
- Pygmalion married Galatea and they had a daughter called Paphos. The city was named after her.
Paphos, Cyprus