The sculptor Pygmalion carves a statue of his ideal woman, naming her Galatea

Pygmalion, a talented sculptor from Cyprus, was so devoted to his art that he never fell in love. He believed that no woman could live up to the ideal beauty he held in his heart. One day, he decided to sculpt a statue of a woman according to his vision of perfection. With each stroke of his chisel, the statue became more beautiful.He named the statue Galatea. She was so perfect and lifelike that he fell deeply in love with her. He would spend hours gazing at her "skin" of smooth marble, touching her gently as if she were alive. Overwhelmed by his longing, Pygmalion prayed to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, to grant him a real love, for he could not imagine life without Galatea.Touched by his sincere devotion, Aphrodite decided to help him. When Pygmalion touched the statue once more, he felt the cold marble warm and soften beneath his hands—Galatea had come to life, transformed into a real woman.