Pygmalion: sculptor on Cyprus, “woman-hater”
decided never to marry, said his art was enough for him
made a statue of a woman:
couldn’t stop thinking about what he disapproved of
OR wanted to show women up by creating the perfect woman and show their deficiencies to men
beautiful nothing/no one had ever existed like her
he fell in love bc she was so life-like
supreme achievement of art: “the art of concealing art”
women had their revenge
he kissed/caressed her, but she didn’t respond
pretended she was alive
gave gifts “real maidens love”:

rich robes

birds

flowers

tears of Phaëton’s sisters

Ovid’s Metamorphosis:
gifts: “shells and polished pebbles, little birds, and many-coloured flowers, lilies and tinted beads, and the Heliades’s amber tears, that drip from the trees”
also talks about jewelry

put her into bed and tucked her in
couldn’t keep pretending, gave up
Venus interested because he was something new/original
feast day for Venus on Cyprus where she first came onto land after rising out of the foam
snow-white heifers offered for her
many people with unrequited love
Pygmalion asked Venus if she could give him a maiden LIKE his statue
Venus knew what he really wanted
gave him a sign: flame on the alter leaped up 3 times
Pygmalion went home hopeful
caressed statue and thought it was warm
kissed and she turned human
Venus attended their wedding

Other version: waited for 9 full moons to pass

Pygmalion named her Galatea
had a son named Paphos who named Venus’ favorite city after himself

One version said they also had a daughter named Metharme

Themes:
unrequited love