who was pygmalion?
In Ovid's narrative, Pygmalion was a Cypriot sculptor who carved a woman out of ivory. According to Ovid, after seeing the Propoetides he was not interested in women, but his statue was so fair and realistic that he fell in love with it. In time, Aphrodite's festival day came, and Pygmalion made offerings at the altar of Aphrodite. Thereâtoo scared to admit his desireâhe quietly wished for a bride who would be the living likeness of my ivory girl. When he returned home, he kissed his ivory statue, and found that its lips felt warm.