The Cypriot prince Pygmalion is known thanks to the Roman poet Ovid. In his Metamorphoses he describes how one day this famous sculptor falls in love with one of his own creations.
According to Ovid, Pygmalion had seen women sin so often that he decided never to marry. He was particularly incensed at the licentious way of life of the so-called Propetids, women who sacrificed human beings and indulged in carnal lusts without hesitation. Pygmalion felt that no woman deserved him and was beautiful enough for him. Instead, he devoted himself to his work and developed into a renowned sculptor. One day he made an ivory statue of a beautiful girl. Pygmalion was more than proud of it and often looked with delight at his own work. Ovid:
“he fell in love with his creation. It appeared in truth a perfect virgin with the grace of life, but in the expression of such modesty all motion was restrained—and so his art concealed his art. Pygmalion gazed, inflamed with love and admiration for the form, in semblance of a woman, he had carved.” –Metamorfosen 10:249-255 (Bron)
Pygmalion becomes completely obsessed with his creation. He talks to the girl, brings her gifts, hugs her and regularly presses intense kisses on her ivory mouth. The sculptor buys robes for his ‘beloved’, hangs chains around her neck and at one point even puts the statue on a mattress and calls her his ‘bed mate’. Of course, love remains unrequited, but Pygmalion hopes to one day really be able to live with his creation. When he makes a sacrifice on a feast day in honor of Aphrodite (Venus), he addresses the gods directly and asks them to give him a wife. He dares not say that he wants “the one made of ivory”. Instead, he says, “she looks like my ivory wife.”
Aphrodite hears the prince, understands what he really wants to say and decides to meet him. When Pygmalion comes home from the party, he lays down on his bed and kisses his creation. Ovid:
“Again he kissed her; and he felt her breast; the ivory seemed to soften at the touch, and its firm texture yielded to his hand, as honey-wax of Mount Hymettus turns to many shapes when handled in the sun, and surely softens from each gentle touch. He is amazed; but stands rejoicing in his doubt; while fearful there is some mistake, again and yet again, gives trial to his hopes by touching with his hand. It must be flesh!” –Metamorfosen 10:281-288 (Bron)
The two fall in love, get married and some time later give birth to a child: Paphos. The current Cypriot port city is said to be named after him.
Pinocchio
Over the years, many artists and writers have been inspired by Ovid’s story. For example, Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw made a modern adaptation in 1913 under the title Pygmalion (1913). This play was the basis of the famous musical My Fair Lady (1956). Furthermore, Johann Christopph Friedrich Bach (the fourth son of Johann Sebastian) composed the music for a cantata about the sculptor:
Pinnokio’s story, about woodworker Geppetto’s doll brought to life, also seems to be based on Pygmalion history. In Ovid’s case, the image brought to life has no name. However, in later cultural expressions she is sometimes called Galatea. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe called her Elise.
Pygmalion-effect
Finally, the Pygmalion effect (also: Rosenthal effect) is known in education and sociology. According to this phenomenon, teachers can unconsciously influence the performance of their students through the expectations they have of them.
