Pygmalion & Galatea
He fell in love with his own sculpture
The sculptor Pygmalion, disillusioned with women, carves the perfect woman in ivory and falls in love with her; Aphrodite, moved, brings the statue, Galatea, to life.
01Why it matters
It is the myth of love that creates its object; it inspired Shaw's "Pygmalion" and the musical "My Fair Lady."
02The conflict
Loving someone who does not exist… until they do.
03The iconic moment
The ivory turning to warm flesh beneath his hands.
04What survived
"My Fair Lady"; the "Pygmalion effect" in psychology.
05Frequently asked questions
Why is the story of Pygmalion & Galatea famous?
It is the myth of love that creates its object; it inspired Shaw's "Pygmalion" and the musical "My Fair Lady."
How does the story of Pygmalion & Galatea end?
The ivory turning to warm flesh beneath his hands. "My Fair Lady"; the "Pygmalion effect" in psychology.
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