Welcome back to "Greek Mythology Gods," where we once again journey into the mysterious world of mythology and explore the glory and fate of the gods.
Yesterday, we met Hermes, the wisest and most mischievous god in the heavens. He stole Apollo's cattle and played tricks on the gods, but he resolved conflicts with his wit, ultimately rising from a troublemaker to a symbol of wisdom.
Today, we'll explore a completely different mortal: the sculptor Pygmalion, who hated women but created his ideal lover.
In ancient Greece, there lived a skilled sculptor named Pygmalion. His works were so lifelike that even Hephaestus, the god of fire, became jealous. But strangely, he never carved images of women.
His childhood was deeply unfortunate—his mother's departure and his first love's betrayal left him with a fear and loathing of women. He vowed never to be associated with women and devoted his entire life to sculpture.
Until one day, he had a dream. In it, a beautiful woman appeared before him. Upon waking, the dream repelled him. But as he concentrated on carving, he was astonished to discover that his sculpture was the perfect woman of his dream.
When the statue was finished, Pygmalion was astonished. It was the most perfect work he had ever created, its beauty bordering on divine. He found himself falling in love with it. He dressed her and adorned her with ornaments, just as he would a true lover.
So, at a festival dedicated to Aphrodite, Pygmalion finally mustered the courage to pray to the goddess of love and beauty: "Great Aphrodite, please grant me a wife like my statue." When he returned home, the cold statue had gradually warmed and softened—she had come to life.
Pygmalion and her successfully married and had a son named Paphos. Legend has it that there was a city dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite by this name.
Later, psychologists used the term "Pygmalion Effect" to explain the power of belief. It means that when you truly believe in something, it will come true.
In the next episode, we'll begin a new chapter in "Greek Mythology Gods"，the adventures of Perseus. Son of Zeus and Danae, he survived an abandoned wooden chest and grew up to become a destined hero. He embarked on a quest to slay the Gorgon Medusa. Guided by the gods, armed with a mirror shield and clad in flying boots, he bravely rewrote hisdestiny.
Thank you for listening to "Greek Mythology Gods." Next time, we'll continue to take you on a journey through mythical time and space, exploring the glory and legends of the ancient Greek gods. See you next time.
For further reading, you can refer to the following:
Pygmalion- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmalion_(mythology)
If you’d like to dive deeper beyond the stories, you can also explore sculptures inspired by these myths here:
https://www.arturbanstatue.com/other-product/greek-and-roman-statues/