Pygmalion was an accomplished sculptor, who won the acclaim of everyone for his perfect statues. He was lonely; yet he didn't marry because he could never find the "perfect girl." In his loneliness he made a marvelous statue of ivory, more beautiful than any living woman. Into the statue he put all his skill and all his desire for companionship. Visitors exclaimed with disbelief and amazement at the perfection of the statue.
"Look! She moves!" cried out one after another, but no, the statue was of lifeless ivory.
Pygmalion fell in love with his own creation. He thought, "If only she were alive!" But the statue gazed unseeingly into space.
At last the festival in honor of Venus came around. Pygmalion, obsessed with love for his statue, strode up to the smoking altar of the goddess. A wild idea came to him. Resolutely he cried out, "O goddess, bid my statue live." A flame shot up from the altar, an omen that the goddess had heard.
Pygmalion rushed hom. When he arrived, he found his statue garlanded with flowers. A soft voice called his name. The statue started from the pedestal and walked to him. His beloved statue had indeed come to life, as beautiful as ever, but now a living, breathing woman. She was called Galatea. Pygmalion and Galatea were married, and Venus herself blessed the wedding of Pygmailion and Galatea.
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FairyTales & Myths
A sound, that you always dream to hear, is calling you to a new magical world, a world called......
Heronie
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