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Pygmalion And Ovid's Metamorphoses

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There are many myths and tales in Greek mythology about lovers. One of those tales is about a sculptor named Pygmalion. He lived on the island of Cyprus were he sculpted endless amounts of statues. His story originated from a poet named Ovid, who lived in 43 BC. He wrote a play called Metamorphoses and the story of Pygmalion was born. The tales starts when the women of Cyprus realize that Pygmalion is one of the only men on the island that isn’t married. The reason being, Pygmalion had a strong dislike of the female species. He decided that instead of having a wife, he had his endless amount of beautiful statues to stay with him and be his company. The woman of the villages knew this, and were furious about it. They wanted their beautiful …show more content…

After he was finished, he began to carve the marble statue. He spent 3 days and 3 nights on the figure, failing to sleep or eat. When he finally finished it, he collapsed on the floor in a deep sleep. Hours later, when he awoke, he saw a beautiful woman standing above him. He pulled himself up off the cold floor to find that it was, in fact, his sculpture, which he named Galatea. Remembering his promise to Aphrodite, he panicked and tried to find any unfinished part of the statue, to postpone his marriage. But it was no use, the statue was perfect. At this time, the festival Aphrodite was taking place. In his dismay, Pygmalion went down into the town to complete his solemnities. After he had done so, he stood before the altar and timidly said, “Ye gods, who con do all things, give me, I pray you, for my wife”- he dared not say “my ivory virgin,” but said instead- “one like my ivory virgin”. (PYGMALION-DRYOPE-VENUS AND ADONIS-APOLLO AND HYACINTHUS, 1). Coincidently, Aphrodite was at the festival at the time he said these words. She heard him and knew the thought he would’ve uttered; and as an omen of her favor, caused the flame on the altar to shoot up thrice in a fiery

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