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Proteus is Poseidon's son, and the protector of the sea. He is the master of sea monsters and sea animals, and is a shapeshifter.

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Menelaus wants to return home to Sparta, but Proteus is the only being who can show him the way home. In order to get the information he needs, Menelaus must capture Proteus and hold him unflinchingly until Proteus gives up.

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Menelaus waits on the beach of the island, knowing Proteus will show up at some point to count his seals. When Proteus shows up, Menelaus grips the god tightly even when he changes his shape. Proteus relents, and tells Menelaus what he must do to return to Sparta.

USES IN LITERATURE:
The main character in Shakespeare's play The Two Gentlemen Of Verona is named Proteus because his affections constantly change as he falls in and out of love with different women.

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The name Proteus alludes to both versatility and shifty character, with positive and negative connotations respectively. Proteus is respected because of his ability to transform in order to evade and fight his enemies.

Proteus is also the origin of the name for proteus bacteria, which are responsible for many types of infections and difficult to treat due to their ability to change.

LESSON:
Patience and courage yield positive outcomes.

VIRTUES:
Versatility, ability to adapt.

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Aphrodite saw that Galatea resembled herself and granted Pygmalion's wish. Galatea and Pygmalion live a happy and prosperous life together with the blessing of Aphrodite.

LESSON:
Love is powerful, and true love will be rewarded.

VIRTUES:
Beauty, talent, love.

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Pygmalion falls in love with his creation, and pleads with Aphrodite to give Galatea life so that they may marry.

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Pygmalion, an incredibly talented sculptor, is repulsed by women and instead creates Galatea, a perfect woman made of ivory.

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Pygmalion and Galatea (French: Pygmalion et Galathée) is an 1898 French short silent trick film directed by Georges Méliès, based on the ancient Pygmalion myth. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmalion_and_Galatea_(1898_film)

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Often referred to in themes of true love, blessings of the Gods. One of the few Greek myths where the gods give a gift without expecting something in return.

Can also be referred to in themes of superficiality, as Pygmalion fell in love solely based on Galatea's physical appearance.

Galatea can also be seen as a physical form of Pygmalion's soul, in which case Pygmalion's creation of her would be a journey of self-discovery.