The King & the Statue
(a myth from ancient Rome)
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The king of Cyprus (Cypern, en liten ö nära Turkiet) was single and he wanted to get married. But he was not interested in the women of his kingdom. He felt they were vain fåfängda and loose lösaktiga. Instead of seeking a mate (maka, fru), he spent his time carving (huggande). He carved from marble (marmor, hård sten) his ideal woman. He lovingly kärleksfullt called her Galatea. In Cyprus in those days, there was a festival to honor their patron goddess skyddsguddina, Aphrodite. People would worship dyrka the goddess and ask her for help. Well, the king naturally got tired of being alone (trot på att vara ensam). He longed for läntande efter company sällskap. It was time for him to get married gifta sig. |
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But he couldn't find a woman he wanted to marry. So he prayed bad to the goddess for a wife like som liknade his statue staty.
Goddess Aphrodite was charmed by his devotion hängivenhet.
When the king returned home from the festival, he embraced (kramade) the marble statue. And the statue returned his hug (kramade tillbaka)! Aphrodite had granted (given) him his wish — Galatea was alive.
