Galatea

• A seanymph, Ov. M. 13, 738; 789; 839 sq.; Verg. A. 9, 103.—
• II A rustic maiden, Verg. E. 1, 31; 3, 64.—
• III A female friend of Horace, to whom C. 3, 27 is addressed.

(Γαλάτεια, “the milk-white”). A sea-nymph, daughter of Nereus and Doris. According to a Sicilian story, which the poets Philoxenus and Theocritus have made famous, she was pursued by the uncouth monster Polyphemus (q.v.), being herself in love with the beautiful Acis. The jealous giant crushed Acis with a rock, and the nymph changed her beloved into the Sicilian river which bears his name. The legend of Acis and Galatea has been a favourite theme in English literature. Adaptations of it are to be found in Gay's Acis and Galatea, J. S. Blackie's Galatea, Proctor's Death of Acis, R. Buchanan's Polypheme's Passion, and Austin Dobson's Tale of Polypheme.

• Apollod. 1.2.6