ABSTRACT
The Pygmalion myth dates from later than the Prometheus myth, and finds its origin in an account by Ovid that relates the story of a Cypriot sculptor, Pygmalion, who despised women and their company. The representation of Prometheus as a sculptor — as used by Balzac — is almost incidental to the evolution of the myth. In the Pygmalion myth, though the gift of life is symbolized by the same element, fire, the animation of matter which follows is of a different nature. The intervention of Venus is required, since she is the divinity of love and beauty, not of altruistic love. Although Prometheus's love of mankind and creation-making powers had all the characteristics to seduce the Aesthetes, the violence bound to his rebellion. Eventually, the Pygmalion myth became a reflection of the narcissism of the artist, the figure of Narcissus being also extremely popular with Symbolists.
