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19-Myth As Allegories
19-Myth As Allegories
As
Allegories
Allegory is a word that has
a number of specific
meanings, but in Greek it is
used rather generally to mean
that, beneath the apparent
meaning of a story is
concealed another, more
important meaning.
An allegorical interpretation of a
myth could be said to posit a one-to-
one correspondence between
mythical “clothing” and the ideas
being so clothed. This approach
tends to limit the meaning of a myth,
whereas that meaning may in reality
be multiple, operating on several
levels.
PYGMALION
AND
GALATEA
The story of Pygmalion and
Galatea is an enchanting myth
about a Cypriot sculptor who fell
in love with his own sculpture. He
prays to goddess Aphrodite (aka
Venus) to bring the sculpture to
life, because he plans for it to be
his wife. The goddess grants his
wish, and as a result, Pygmalion
and his creation lived happily ever
after.
Pygmalion and Galatea I: The Heart Desires