Pygmalion-Mythology

PYGMALION AND GALATEA

The story of Pygmalion and Galatea is found in Greek Mythology, and in the famous work “Metamorphoses”, by the great Roman poet Ovid. Their love was so unique that it is difficult to define it. But from this legendary story, one thing is clear, man can never love an inanimate object with as much passion as he loves a living, breathing being. Love gives rise to desire and without this passion any love remains unfulfilled.

Pygmalion was a master sculptor in the ancient city of Greece. All day he sculpted beautiful statues from huge pieces of rock. In fact, his creations were so wonderful that whoever saw them were mesmerized by their sheer artistic beauty and exact finish. Pygmalion himself was a fine and handsome young man. He was liked by all men and women. Many women loved him for his great skills and looks.

But Pygmalion never paid attention to any of these women. He saw so much to blame in women that he came at last to abhor the sex and resolved to live unmarried. He was a sculptor, and with his with wonderful skill he sculpted a beautiful Ivory statue which was so lifelike that it was so difficult to believe that it was lifeless at the first glance. The beauty that was such that no living woman could compete with it. It was indeed the perfect semblance of a maiden that seemed to be alive, and only prevented from moving by modesty, His art was so perfect that bit concealed itself and its product looked like the workmanship of nature. Pygmalion spent hours admiring his creation.

By and by Pygmalion’s admiration for his own sculpture turned to love. Often times he laid his hands upon it as if it assure himself whether it were living or not, and could not, even then, believe that it was only ivory. He caressed it, and gave it such presents as young girls love – bright shells and polished stones, little birds and flowers of various hues, beads and amber. He adorned his ivory maiden with jewels. He put raiment on its limbs, and jewels...