Pygmalion

Pygmalion, king of Cyprus was shocked when the behaviour of a certain young woman brought the god's wrath on his city. He declared that he would have nothing do with any women, and withdrew into his palace.

While the king was voluntarily imprisoned he concentrated on carving beautiful sculptures. As he worked he thought about how a woman's beauty could hide a cold evil heart. He decided to make himself the perfect woman. He carved her in ivory and she was more beautiful than any maiden alive. He fell in love with his creation and treated it as if she was alive, bringing her flowers and jewellery.

When the annual festival of Aphrodite occurred, Pygmalion made an offering to the goddess and asked her to give him a wife who is as perfect as his ivory statue.

When he arrived home he looked at his statue, and she seemed more beautiful than ever. He kissed her, and her lips were warm. Then the maiden opened her eyes and Pygmalion named the woman Galatea. Aphrodite attended their wedding and blessed their union. Later they had two sons called Metharme and Paphos, now the name of the city in Cyprus where the oldest and most famous temple of Aphrodite stood.