Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
VIII: Pygmalion—Dryope—Venus and Adonis—Apollo and Hyacinthus explained
This chapter recounts four classical myths of love, transformation, and loss.
What happens
This chapter recounts four classical myths of love, transformation, and loss. Pygmalion, a sculptor who abhors women, falls in love with his own ivory statue, which Venus brings to life. Dryope unknowingly plucks a lotus that is the transformed nymph Lotis, leading to her own metamorphosis into a tree. Venus warns her beloved Adonis against hunting dangerous beasts, but he is killed by a boar; she transforms his blood into the anemone flower. Apollo accidentally kills his beloved Hyacinthus during a game of quoits and creates the hyacinth flower marked with his grief.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Transformation
Each myth involves love leading to a physical transformation: Pygmalion's statue becomes human, Dryope becomes a tree, Adonis's blood becomes a flower, and Hyacinthus becomes the hyacinth.
Mortality and Immortality
The myths explore the tension between mortal death and immortal legacy through flowers and memorials created by gods.
Characters to notice
- Pygmalion
A sculptor who creates an ivory statue so beautiful that he falls in love with it; Venus grants his wish for a wife like his statue, bringing it to life.
- Venus
Goddess of love who blesses Pygmalion's union and later mourns the death of Adonis, transforming his blood into the anemone flower.
- Phoebus Apollo
God who loves Hyacinthus and accidentally kills him with a discus; he creates the hyacinth flower inscribed with his sorrow.
- Hyacinthus
A youth beloved by Apollo, killed when a quoit strikes his forehead; his blood becomes the hyacinth flower.
- Adonis
Beloved of Venus, killed by a wild boar despite her warnings; his blood is transformed into the anemone.
- Dryope
Sister of Iole, wife of Andraemon, who is transformed into a lotus tree after plucking the nymph Lotis.
Key passages
“Pygmalion saw so much to blame in women that he came at last to abhor the sex, and resolved to live unmarried.”
Pygmalion found so many faults in women that he grew to despise them and decided never to marry.
Sets up Pygmalion's initial misogyny and his turn to art.
“Venus blessed the nuptials she had formed, and from this union Paphos was born, from whom the city, sacred to Venus, received its name.”
Venus blessed the marriage she had arranged, and from it came Paphos, after whom the city dedicated to Venus was named.
Concludes the Pygmalion story with a founding myth.
“Your blood shall be changed into a flower; that consolation none can envy me.”
Your blood will be turned into a flower; no one can deny me that comfort.
Venus promises to immortalize Adonis through a flower.
“Thou diest, Hyacinth, robbed of thy youth by me. Thine is the suffering, mine the crime.”
You die, Hyacinthus, deprived of your youth because of me. You suffer, but I am to blame.
Apollo's lament over the accidental death of Hyacinthus.