See also: Pygmalion, Galatée

In the Greek Mythology, the legend of Pygmalion and Galatée (in Greek old Πυγμαλίων καὶ Γαλατεία / Pugmalíôn kaì Galateía ) is associated with the island of Cyprus. She is mainly told by Ovide in her Métamorphoses .

Myth

Pygmalion is a sculptor residing at Cyprus (the Pseudo-Apollodore presents it like the king de' the island). Revolted against the marriage because of the reprehensible control of the Propétides (women of Cyprus) it was each pilot day, it is dedicated to the celibacy. But it falls in love with a statue from ivory, works of its chisel: it names it Galatée, equips it and avoids it richly. At the time of the festivals dedicated on the island to Aphrodite, he requests the goddess to give him a wife similar to his statue. Its wish is exaucé by the goddess, who gives life to Galatée. Pygmalion the wife then (in the presence of Aphrodite) and will have of it a girl (Paphos according to Ovide, Métharmé according to the Pseudo-Apollodore).

Propétides had denied the divinity of Aphrodite; the goddess punishes them by lighting in their hearts the fire of the impudicity. They ended up losing any shame, and were imperceptibly changed into rocks.

Artistic evocations

The legend of Pygmalion, told by Ovide in the Metamorphoses , thereafter, inspired by many artists. One can in particular quote:

• Pygmalion , Act of ballet of Jean-Philippe Branch; ¨
• Pygmalion (1939), table of Paul Delvaux, Royal Museums of the Art schools of Brussels
• Pygmalion , Play of George Bernard Shaw;
• Pygmalion and Galatée , table of Girodet of 1819 (Paris, Museum of Louvre);
• the Jupiter Sculptor and Statue, Fable of Jean of the Fountain.
• Pinocchio

Sources

• (III, 14,3).

• (XXXIII).
• (X, 243-297).

See too

Related article

• the Pygmalionisme (or “agalmatophilie”) indicating an attraction for the statues

External bonds

• the myth of Pygmalion