Pygmalion lived on the island of Cyprus where the goddess Aphrodite was widely revered and he was devoted to her. Not everyone shared this devotion. The daughters of Propoetus of Amathus, who were known as known as the Propoetides, did not worship Aphrodite or pay her due respect.
As a punishment Aphrodite filled them with an immoral passion causing them to act as wanton prostitutes. Pygmalion abhorred their behaviour and grew to loathe them so much that he swore never to marry. For many years he separated himself from such behaviour concentrating on his work. During this time of isolation he created a statue of a woman of the most perfect beauty that was so amazingly lifelike he fell in love with it. Read more