PygmalionMyth

ThestoryofPygmalionis
recountedin
Ovid'sMetaphorphoses,aseries
ofnarrativepoemsbasedonthe
themesofchangeand
transformationusingGreco
Romanmythand
legend.Ovid(PubliusOvidius
Naso)wasbornonMarch20,43
BC.Theworkindiscussionhad
beenreadyforpublicationaround
8A.D.
ThetaleofPygmalionaswritten
byOvidgoesasfollows:hewasa
giftedyoungsculptorinCyprus
whohadastrongmisgivings
aboutwomenduetothenumerous
viceshethoughttheywerecapableofperpetrating.Hewasdeterminednevertomarry,
believingthathiscommitmenttohisartwasenoughtosustainhispassions.However,one
dayhebegantosculptastatueofivorythathedecidedshouldbeawoman.Hewas
determinedtoformtheimageoftheperfectwomanasconceivedbynooneuntilnowbyhim.
Thestatuegrewmoreimpressiveeachdaywiththeadroitapplicationofhisskill.Whenhe
finallyperfectedhisbeautifulstate,Pygmalionrealizedthathehadfalleninlovewithit.He
begantotreatthestatueasifitwerealivehewouldkissit,embraceit,offergiftstoit,dress
it,andevenlayitdownonacouch.Allthewhile,heimaginedsherespondedwiththe
affectionsofarealwoman.
ThedayofVenuscame,whichthedenizensofCyprusconsideredtheirholiestfestival,since
Cypruswastheislandthatfirstreceivedthegoddessaftersherosefromtheseafoam.Onthis
day,worshipperswouldsacrificeheifersasofferingstothegoddess.AfterPygmalionmade
hisoffering,heprayedtothegodsthattheymightvouchsafetomakethe"livinglikeness"of
hisivorystatuehisbride.
Venusknewwhathedesired,andsheacknowledgedhisprayerbycausingtheflameatthe
altartoflareupthreetimes.Havingwitnessedthisgoodomen,Pygmalionreturnedtohis
housetobewiththeoneheloved.Hebegantokissandtocaressherardently.Thestatue
seemedtobecomesoftandwarmtohistouch,butatfirsthethoughthewasdeluding
himself.However,whenhefeltapulsefromthebodyheheldinhisarms,heknewthat
Venushadgrantedhisprayer.Sherespondedasarealwomantohisembraces.Pygmalion
thankedthegoddess,andthegoddessinturnblessedtheoccasionoftheirunion.Together
theyeventuallyhadadaughterwhosenamewasPaphos.
http://umich.edu/~engb415/literature/pontee/Pygmalion/Pygsmry.html