Who is galatea

The complete opposite of the Propoitides is Galatea. She embodies the patriarchal ideal of the perfect woman. Galatea is beautiful beyond imagination and shows no signs of sexuality. The Propoitides refused Aphrodite showing fierce independence that defied even the gods, Galatea is created by Aphrodite herself and is obedient.

She is also passive whereas the Propoitides are active and artificial where they are natural. With the term agalmatophilia, 20th-century scientists described the sexual attraction for a statue but also a doll or a mannequin. Clement of Alexandria was a Christian author of the 2nd century CE who used the myth of Pygmalion and Galatea to advocate against the ancient religion. Clement argued in his Exhortation to the Greeks 4, page that the cult of images like statues of gods led to immoral and unnatural behavior.

Clement drew from a tradition claiming that the statue was in fact an image of Aphrodite. Clement also added other examples of men trying to have intercourse with statues and cult images. This tradition influenced Christian art for centuries especially in the eastern half of the Roman Empire which came to be known as the Byzantine Empire.

Antonis is a senior staff member at TheCollector, managing the Archaeology and Ancient History department. In his spare time, he publishes articles on his specialty. Are you enjoying this article? Sign up to our Free Weekly Newsletter. Please check your inbox to activate your subscription Thank you! Read more by Antonis Chaliakopoulos.

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About Greece. Where to go in Greece? What to do in Greece? Destinations by popularity. Book your holiday with Greeka. Island hopping proposals. Sports to practice. Major events in Greece. Travel there. Close Modal Search Greeka. Map View. Museum Stories. Medieval Art. The story of Pygmalion and Galatea is an enchanting myth about a Cypriot sculptor who fell in love with his own sculpture.

He prays to goddess Aphrodite aka Venus to bring the sculpture to life, because he plans for it to be his wife. The goddess grants his wish, and as a result, Pygmalion and his creation lived happily ever after. But even this perfumed version gives the inconspicuous hope of an artist that their creation might spring to life one day. It is a myth that has inspired many since its Ancient Greek origin. But one of the most favored versions was portrayed by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones in his series of four panels shown below.

Pygmalion is here in his studio, with a look of deep thought etched on his face. Disgusted by the debauched lifestyle of the local women, he has therefore decided to stay celibate and devote his life to his craft. He is oblivious to the women peering through his doorway, along with his previous statues that remind us of the Three Graces.

He sees in his mind an image of the perfect woman he has yet to create. One day, Pygmalion completes his creation of the woman of his dreams. As a result, he falls hopelessly in love with it.

In a moment of inspiration, he names the figurine Galatea. This shows the work he has put into perfecting it. In the meantime, the city is celebrating a festival in the name of the goddess Aphrodite. While making offerings to Aphrodite, Pygmalion prays with all his heart and soul for the goddess to bring his statue to life.

Touched by his deep veneration, the goddess visits his studio. She is amazed by the beauty she has discovered. Consequently, she grants the artists his wish. Whatever the case, Pygmalion worked so long and with such inspiration on the statue of Galatea, that it became more beautiful than any woman that had ever lived or been carved in stone. When his chisel finally stopped ringing, there stood before him a woman of such perfection that Pygmalion, who had professed his disdain of all females, fell deeply in love.

He would bring it gifts, caress it, kiss it and talk to it every day. He brought it gifts he thought women would enjoy, such as pretty seashells, beads, songbirds, baubles and flowers. He would dress the statue in fine clothing, and put rings on her fingers, necklaces around her neck and even earrings. However, what irony that he who had scorned women should fall in love with a woman who could never love him in return!

Such a passion could not go unnoticed by the goddess of love, Aphrodite. She took pity on the young man and, when Pygmalion went to her temple to sacrifice a bull, Aphrodite gave him a sign.