Black Horse

Pygmalion and the Statue

In short: Read how the statue comes to life in Ovid’s Pygmalion tale, set on Cyprus.

Pygmalion and the Statue · Ivory that softens to the touch FAIRY TALE ATLAS · № 153 Pygmalion and the Statue Read how the statue comes to life in Ovid’s Pygmalion tale, set on Cyprus. Origin A classical tale set on Cyprus in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Atlas record 1st century CE First appearance Exact date unknown SIGNATURE MOTIF Ivory that softens to the touch Reach¹ 1/10 Suggested age² 8+ Member rating No votes yet 1 records · 1 countries or regions blackhorsestories.com

¹ Based on the number of Atlas countries, capped at 10. ² Editorial suggestion for reading this page. Discover Black Horse’s question

Origin and tradition

A classical tale set on Cyprus in Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

Pygmalion falls in love with an ivory statue he has made. At Venus’s festival he asks for a wife like it. Back home, he touches the figure and feels the hard surface soften. The change unfolds through what the sculptor’s hand discovers.

Dated records and sources

  1. 1st century CE · Paphos, Cyprus
    Ovid · Metamorphoses · Book X, 243–297

Country pages

Fairy Tale Glossary

Origin
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