On his knees, from day to day, he had prayed for fresh inspiration, new skill.

He believed, gratefully and proudly, that Apollo, answering his prayers, had directed his hand and had breathed into the figures the life that seemed to animate them; but now,--now, all the gods seemed to have deserted him.
Cleone, his devoted sister, felt the blow as deeply as her brother.

"O Aphrodite!" she prayed, "immortal Aphrodite, high enthroned child of Zeus, my queen, my goddess, my patron, at whose shrine I have daily laid my offerings, to be now my friend, the friend of my brother!" Then to her brother she said: "O Creon, go to the cellar beneath our house.

It is dark, but I will furnish light and food.

Continue your work; the gods will befriend us." To the cellar Creon went, and guarded and attended by his sister, day and night, he proceeded with his glorious but dangerous task.
About this time all Greece was invited to Athens to behold an exhibit of works of art.