Pygmalion

Pygmalion was a young man dwelling on the island of Cyprus a sculptor by trade and blessed by the gods with remarkable skill. Under his hands a simple block of marble could become a horse so lifelike you’d swear you could hear the clatter of its hooves. He could shape ivory into the semblance of a woman so flawless in her beauty men would fall at her lifeless feet and pledge their undying love If she would just step down from her pedestal. He could even shape a humble stick of wood into a carving of a snake so frightening even a hardened soldier would run from it.

Word of Pygmalion’s prodigious talent soon spread and he was flooded with commissions from across the civilised world. It was said that no temple or palace was complete without one of Pygmalion’s works. As demand grew for his work he found that he had become an extraordinarily wealthy man. Success did not go to his head and he remained  humble and pious. So he lived in great comfort with the respect of his neighbours and and the admiration of his peers. He should have been happy and indeed he thanked the gods daily for his good fortune and yet there was a sadness or his heart.

He was sad because he had no one to share his life with. He had many lovers but could never stay with them for long. His sculptor’s eye always would find some flaw in them and once he found it it would grow and grow in his mind’s eye until he could no longer bare to be touched by them. Eventually he realised that no woman or man of flesh and blood could ever measure up to his own creations and  he fell into a deep depression. He despaired of ever finding a true mate and prayed to Aphrodite to send him a lover to match his impossible standards.

He awoke early the next morning sensing something was different but unsure what. He went about his usual routine eating a hearty breakfast and sitting in his garden for a while before beginning his day’s labours. He gazed into an ornamental pool watching his own reflection and for a moment he had a vision, he seems to glimpse his ideal partner floating in the water, it lasts for just a moment then vanishes like a dream.

Pygmalion curses the cruel gods to taunt him so with a glimpse of what could never be. He  buries his face in his hands attempting to to hold back tears of frustration but as he does so he feels something shift. He lowers his hands and stares once more into the pool and sees that his face has changed. His features now closely resemble the vision of beauty he had glimpsed, he raises a hand to his face confirming his eyes are not deceiving. He strokes the smooth hairless skin of his cheek marvelling at his sudden transformation but the part of his mind that is never satisfied can’t help thinking that the cheek bones should be a little more defined. On a reflex he pushes on them and to his shock feels them shift as easily as if he was moulding clay. He stared at his hands slowly understanding that he had been granted a gift from the gods.

Hey began to reshape his body, perfecting his face and running his fingers through his hair causing it to lengthen and flow past his shoulders in silken waves. He works down his body turning his skill and gods given talent on his own form. Under his hands a new body emerges a slim flat waist softly curving hips long smooth legs. He reshapes himself into a vision of beauty to rival even the divine Athena. Full firm breasts top his chest a delicate cleft replaces his manhood. As the sun climbs towards noon he fusses over the last small details, the length to his fingers the shape of his eyebrows until not even his critical eye came finds a flaw.

Finally satisfied he offers a prayer of thanks to his patron goddess but as he does so he feels a chill

He looks down at his altered body and sees that little by little it is turning to stone. Most men would be alarmed by such an event but Pygmalion is content. It seems only fitting that he should become his own greatest work, his corruptible flesh transmuted into everlasting marble. He will endure for all time a fitting testament to his art and the wisdom of the gods.