Pygmalion and Galatea

Falconet--Pygmalion et Galatee (1763)

The sculpture above depicts the famous Pygmalion myth. The myth of Pygmalion was first related in Ovid's Metamorphosis. Ovid tells the story of the sculptor Pygmalion, who creates a statue so beautiful he falls in love with it. The statue, carved of ivory, is named Galatea. As Pygmalion becomes increasingly obsessed with the statue, he ceases to be interested in the real world or the real women in it. Eventually, seeing his love for the statue, the gods give the statue life and allow Pygmalion and Galatea to marry.

The Pygmalion myth has influenced many subsequent works of art and literature--from the 18th century sculpture depicted above to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Richard Powers' Galatea 2.2. In class, we'll discuss why and how Powers chooses to make this Greek myth so central to his novel.