Definition

Proper noun 1. (Greek mythology) A king of Cyprus who, according to legend, carved a statue of a woman from ivory and fell in love with his own creation. The goddess Aphrodite, moved by his devotion, brought the statue to life as Galatea.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The story of Pygmalion is a classic myth about the power of love and artistic creation.
  • In Ovid's Metamorphoses, Pygmalion shuns real women and creates his ideal female form in ivory.

Advanced Usage

• Pygmalion Effect: A psychological phenomenon where higher expectations lead to an increase in performance. This term, coined from the myth, is used extensively in social psychology, education, and management.
  • The teacher's belief in her students created a positive Pygmalion effect, significantly improving their grades.

Variants and Related Words

• Galatea (Proper noun): The name given to the ivory statue created by Pygmalion, which was brought to life by Aphrodite.
• Pygmalionesque (Adjective): Resembling or characteristic of Pygmalion or his story, often implying the act of shaping or transforming someone.
  • The professor had a Pygmalionesque relationship with his brilliant protégé.

Synonyms

• Creator (in the context of the myth's narrative of an artist and his creation).
• Sculptor (referring to his primary action in the myth).

Related Idioms and Concepts

• "A Pygmalion project": An endeavor where one person attempts to mold, educate, or transform another, often to fit a specific ideal. This derives directly from George Bernard Shaw's play .
  • His attempt to teach her etiquette and elocution was nothing short of a Pygmalion project.

Noun

1. (Greek mythology) a king who created a statue of a woman and fell in love with it; Aphrodite brought the sculpture to life as Galatea