Galatea

Myths, folklore, and symbolism
Galatea: A Nereid, or sea-nymph, of Sicilian origin. Ovid tells how she loved a handsome youth Acis and was herself loved by Polyphemus, a monstrous one-eyed giant, one of the race of Cyclopes. The giant sat on a promontory overlooking the sea and played a love song to Galatea on his pipes. Afterwards, wandering disconsolately among the rocks, he discovered her lying in the arms of Acis. The couple fled and Polyphemus in a rage flung a great boulder which killed Acis. There are two scenes: (1) Polyphemus, his shepherd's crook laid aside, plays a syrinx - the pipes of Pan, which like the flute are a symbol of lust. Sheep graze nearby on the hillside. On a rock across the water the lovers dally, Tritons and Nereids playing around them in the waves. Above the head of Galatea may be an arch of drapery, somewhat like a sail in the wind, the attribute of the Roman spirit of the air, Aura. She rides in her cockle-shell car drawn by dolphins; Acis is then probably absent. The Cyclops has one large eye in the center of the forehead and vestigial eye-sockets in the place of normal eyes. (2) The lovers flee from Polyphemus who stands poised with a rock in his hands about to hurl it. (Dictionary of Subjects & Symbols in Art)


Also, tomorrow is a holiday here in the U.S. Additionally, my husband got assigned to a strike team to photograph one of the big fires up near Chico. So, I'll either be MIA until Monday, or I will spam you all mercilessly. Only time will tell. :)