Myth of Arachne, the spider woman - Greeka.com Discover the myth of Arachne, the spider woman The offence to the gods Arachne in Greek mythology, was a Lydian woman, thought by some to be a princess, who was highly gifted in the art of weaving. Born to Idmon, a famous dyer in Lydia, Arachne was no ordinary weaver and the very act of her weaving was sheer magic and a sight to behold. Soon news of Arachne's artistry spread far and wide and it is said that nymphs from the forests left their frolicking and gathered around Arachne to watch her weave. So moved were they by her skills that they remarked that she surely must have been trained by none other than Goddess Athena, the goddess of weaving. The weaving contest All this adulation was more than Arachne could handle and being an ordinary mortal who was quite vulnerable to human failings, she became quite arrogant about her superior skills. She was annoyed at being regarded as a pupil of Athena and began bragging about her skills, proclaiming herself to be far more superior to even Athena.

Now, when the goddess of weaving heard of Arachne's bold claims, she was upset, but nonetheless decided to give the young woman a chance to regret her folly. Disguised as an old woman, Athena appeared before Arachne and warned her of the consequences of provoking the wrath of the gods, but Arachne was not a bit remorseful and challenged Athena to a contest, declaring that if she lost, she would accept any punishment that Athena would decide for her. That time Athena revealed her true form and accepted the challenge. The stage was set for a battle in which a god and a mortal pitted their artistic skills to decide who the better artist was. The nymphs who had come to watch Arachne weave shrank back, horrified at Arachne's audacity, but Arachne was unshakable and stood her ground. And so the contest began, Athena at her loom and Arachne at hers, each working with threads of gold and a splendid array of colors to decide who would outdo the other in this ultimate trial. What unfolded next was a feast for the eye. Athena created a tapestry replete with scenes from the history of the gods.

She portrayed Zeus at the center of the Olympic pantheon as well as her own contest with Poseidon and her victory, which ultimately made the people of Athens name their city after her. At the corner of her tapestry, she artfully depicted humans who had dared to defy the gods and who had been punished without a trace of mercy. As for Arachne, she deliberately chose scenes that depicted the infidelities and amours of the gods. She vividly portrayed Zeus and his string of indiscretions. She showed how Zeus had turned into a swan to rape the Spartan queen Leda; a bull to entice Europa; an eagle to abduct Aegina; as a shower of gold to seduce Danae; and as a satyr to seduce Antiope. Arachne's work of art, according to the Latin narrative, featured twenty-one scenes of the various misdemeanors of the mighty gods, including Poseidon, Apollo, Dionysus and others. The transformation into a spider Although Arachne had shown little respect for the gods by choosing a subject that made a mockery of the supreme deities of the Olympus, even Athena had to admit that her work was brilliant and flawless.

That, however, was not enough to calm down Athena who was incensed by Arachne's humiliating portrayal of the gods. At last, Athena destroyed in anger Arachne's tapestry and loom. Arachne, like many other foolish mortals, had dared to question the supremacy of the gods. She had, in her arrogance over her art, been blind to the consequences of challenging the gods. Still in anger, Athens transformed Arachne into a disgusting insect. She turned her into a spider ("arachni" in Greek), proclaiming that Arachne and all her descendants would henceforth hang forever from threads and be skillful weavers. An interesting fact that relates myth to history is that the art of weaving is said to have originated in Anatolia, a part of modern Turkey and spiders have been a constant source of inspiration for man to perfect his weaving skill. The story of Arachne from Greek myhology has also been immortalized by science and the taxonomical class name for spiders is Arachnida. Share it!

Greek Stories about Athena-Athena, Arachne and the Weaving Contest Athena, Arachne and the Weaving Contest Athena, Arachne and the Weaving Contest In a small town of Ledia, in Northern Greece, there once lived a beautiful maid with the name Arachne. Arachne was famous in town for being a very skillful weaver and spinner and every day many girls and nymphs were stopping by to see her weave. However, Arachne was a very vain girl and couldnât stop boasting about her talent. She claimed that she had learned the skill all by herself and that there was no one else in the world who could weave as delicately as her... she even felt that she could compete against Athena , the goddess of skill, and win her with ease. When Athena heard these words, she got disappointed and decided to disguise as an old lady and appear in front of Arachne. "My dear", she told Arachne, "I am old and have much life experience, so let me give you one advice: donât ever mess up with a goddess! No mortal can compete against Athena.

Take back your words and kindly ask for forgiveness..." Arachne got furious and threw the thread against the old woman, telling her: "I donât need your advice, I know best what I can do! If Athena really dares, then she should come here and compete against me!" At that moment, the old woman transformed herself into the radiant goddess Athena. On her sight, everybody in the room kneeled down in awe- not so Arachne, who couldn't wait to compete against her. Soon the competition started and both contestants were doing really well. Athena was weaving the Parthenon and her contest with god Poseidon. Arachne, on the other hand, was making fun of the gods by weaving scenes of gods full of weaknesses and fears. Arachneâs work seemed to be perfect technically, yet it was not beautiful because it was showing disregard of the gods. When Athena saw this, she became very offended and told Arachne: "You may be foolish and stubborn, but you seem to love your work.

So go ahead now and spin forever!" Immediately, Athena sprinkled her with the juice of magical herbs and the body of Arachne transformed into a small and ugly animal, which is known as the spider nowadays . Since then, the spider is cursed to be trapped inside her own web, weaving constantly and endlessly... but having finally all her works destroyed by humans! This story proves that the Greek gods and goddesses were subject to human emotion. Search The Weaving Contest Between Athena and Arachne The Weaving Contest Between Athena and Arachne The Weaving Contest Between Athena and Arachne The story from Greek mythology about Athena's contest with Arachne The Spinners (Athena and Arachne), by Diego Velázquez 1644-1648. Public Domain. Courtesy of Wikipedia. Share By N.S. Gill While Athena was a friend to Greek heroes , she wasn't so helpful to women. The story of the weaving contest between Arachne and Athena is one of the most familiar myths about Athena, and its central theme is also popular. Greek mythology repeatedly hammers home the danger of comparing oneself with a goddess.

The theme appears in the story of Cupid and Psyche , where Aphrodite is offended. While ultimately there is a happy ending, to avert Aphrodite's wrath, Psyche's family abandons her to death. In the mythological story of Niobe , Artemis punishes the mortal mother for boasting that she is a more fortunate mother than Artemis' mother, Leto: Artemis destroys all Niobe's children. The punishment Athena inflicts on her capable, but merely mortal victim is more direct. If Arachne wants to claim to be a better weaver than Athena, so be it. That's all she'll ever be good for. The Roman poet Ovid writes about the metamorphosis Arachne suffers in his work on transformations (Metamorphoses): One at the loom so excellently skill'd, That to the Goddess she refus'd to yield, 1000+ images about Arachne, from greek mythology. Who I am named after on Pinterest | Athena goddess, Dr. who and Distaff day Forward Once a mere mortal, Arachne dared to call herself better than Athena at weaving. Gods are proud.

Calling yourself better than Athena is only slightly less dangerous than juggling unpinned grenades. The goddess challenged Arachne to a weaving contest. Arachne lost. As her punishment . . . well, there are many stories. Some say Arachne hanged herself in shame then became the worlds first spider, the weaver of the animal world. See More Athena | Greek Mythology Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Roman Name Minerva Athena (Ancient Greek: Αθηνη) (sometimes called Pallas Athena) was the goddess of wisdom, mathematics, civilization, the arts, reason, skill, and war. Her Roman name is Minerva. She was a child of Zeus and Metis , Zeus' first wife, and was born fully grown, springing out of Zeus' head, after Zeus swallowed his wife who was heavily pregnant with Athena at the time, wearing full battle armor. She taught humans skills such as weaving, sewing, farming, and metalwork. Her symbols are the olive branch and the owl. Athena rules over the capital of Greece, Athens. The city name of Athens comes from the goddess' name. Athena was also present at the birth of Artemis and Apollo.

Contents [ show ] Birth of Athena Zeus and Metis are Athena's parents. Being the father, Zeus learned that Metis' children would overthrow him like he had overthrown his father. Afraid of this, he swallowed Metis. Unknowing that Metis was pregnant, she gave birth to Athena inside Zeus, and trained her. Zeus had a splitting headache, and asked the god of forge and fire, Hephaistos , to cut open his skull. Smashing Zeus' head with his mighty ax, Hephaistos split Zeus' skull, and out sprung Athena, dressed in full battle armor. Rivalry With Poseidon Athena has a rivalry with Poseidon . Her rivalry with Poseidon started with Athens . They both wanted to be patron of the city, and thus gave gifts. A saltwater fountain was Poseidon's gift, while the olive tree was from Athena. They chose the olive tree due to its usefulness. Not long after, an earthquake hit Athens, destroying all olive trees in the area. Her rivalry with Poseidon continues when Athena caught lovers Poseidon and Medusa showing affection in her own temple.

That sort of behavior is a big sign of disrespect so Athena turned Medusa so hideous that no one could or would ever look at her again. Poseidon exacted retribution from Athena by massacring several Athenians, until they built an Acropolis, honoring Athena and Poseidon. Thus Athena was officially the patron goddess of Athens, unofficially, it belonged to Poseidon as well. Not long afterward, Theseus, a son of Poseidon became King of Athens. Arachne Arachne was known for her skills in weaving. Arachne was known far and wide for weaving great and splendid rugs. She was taught by Athena, but claimed to have not and to be much better than she. Athena had favored her, and needed to know herself if this boasting was real. She disguised herself as an old woman, and asked her. As soon as Arachne boasted, she transformed back to her normal form. Athena challenged Arachne to a weaving contest. They had both woven gorgeous rugs, but Athena's was better. Arachne's had a controversial picture of the Olympians on it, and Athena turned her into a spider so she would weave forever..

Hephaestus According to Apollodorus, Athena visited the blacksmith Hephaestus to buy weapons from him, but he was so overcome by desire for her that he tried to seduce her in blacksmith workshop. Determined to maintain her virginity, Athena fled, pursued by Hephaestus. He caught Athena and tried to rape her, but she fought him off. During the struggle, his semen fell on her thigh, and Athena, in disgust, wiped it away with a scrap of wool and flung it to the earth. As she fled, Erichthonius was born from the semen that fell to the earth. Another version recounts how Hephaestus wished to marry Athena, who, like himself was a patron of smiths because Athena refused his hand as, according to some account she found his limp ugly. Other Names Pallas Athena Importance and Functions Athena is Zeus's most powerful child. She is the patron goddess of arts and crafts, like metalworking and weaving. As goddess of wisdom, she offered wise counsel and helped promote civilization, law, order and justice. Athena inspired artists to produce the finest arts. The Athenians believed her to be resourceful and having forethought and memory.

She is an extension of Zeus's role as god of humans. As goddess of war, Athena did not advocate mindless violence. Instead she was involved in battle stratagems, superior troops, courage, strength, skills and weapons. She granted victory to those who deserved it. She is also a patron of heroes like Heracles, Perseus and notably Odysseus. Athena had a dark side though. She was full of hubris and arrogance and couldn't stand it if someone dared to prove her inferior. She is also vengeful and held grudges against Poseidon and Ares. While Athena feared Poseidon, she loathed Ares and once defeated him soundly. Images of Athena's Symbols, Attributes and Sacred Things Snow Owl (Athena's Sacred Bird) Aegis Add a photo to this gallery Gallery Super rare and wonderful pottery kantharos. Decorated in red-figure technique with owl looking forward standing between two laurel sprigs The Birth of Athena The God and Goddess | The Story of Athena Athena, goddess of wisdom, was one of the only three Goddesses who would remain a virgin goddess, never marrying, nor falling to prey to love or the spells of Aphrodite, goddess of love.

Romance is never featured in Athenaï¿½s mythology, and one could she say sheï¿½s the archetypal business woman. Now the way it all started for Athena, the manner in which she was born, was truly amazing. Zeus once laid with the woman Metis. However there was a prophecy that any child born from Metis would surpass Zeus and even usurp him. Zeus fearful of the prophecy swallowed Metis (perhaps not the greatest way to solve his problems, though probably the most expedient at the time) whole trying to prevent the birth of a child, however Metis was already pregnant at the time, and while she was inside the stomach of Zeus her child grew. Eventually Zeus was hit with an enormous headache. Eventually his headache became extremely unbearable and he could no longer take the pain he was in. He asked for the help of Hermes, messenger of the Gods., who struck his forehead the Labrys, a double-headed Minoan axe. When Hermes split open Zeusï¿½s head Athena sprung forth from his forehead fully grown and fully clothed and armed. An unconventional birth indeed! Zeus loved Athena dearly.

Not only was he glad that Athena was not the prophesized son that would lead to his demise, but Athena was also the Goddess of Wisdom. Subsequently Zeus shared with Athena many of his secrets and even sought her advice frequently. She served as Zeusï¿½s prime advisor. Zeus even let her use his lightning bolt and the Aegis, a magical sheepskin that endowed the wearer with invincibility! Thatï¿½s a big deal, he probably loved those bolts and that Aegis more than he did his wife. As said before Athena was a virgin goddess. She never married, and she never had a lover, and subsequently she had no blood children. However she did have a child she treated as her own. Once Hephaestus, God of smithing, attempted to rape Athena, however he was unsuccessful as she was able to evade him. Instead his seed fell upon the Earth and impregnated Gaia. From the impregnation was born Erichthonius. Athena found Erichtonius and treated him as her own child nurturing him. She first entrusted him to the daughters Kekprops, concealing him inside a box and forbid the daughters from opening the chest that contained her son.

However the white-feathered crow came and convinced the daughters to open the chest. Athena punished the daughters for their defying a divine order, driving them mad, leading them to their death by jumping off a cliff, and for the crow Athena turned itï¿½s beautiful white feathers into the black feathers it has today. Subsequently Athena took Erichtonius back into her own hands Eventually he would grow to become king of Athens, a rule where he was frequently advised and protected by Athena. One of Athenaï¿½s many roles was Goddess of War. She was opposite her brother, Ares who was also a deity of war. Her war was the war of strategy and cool logic, must different from Aresï¿½ war of bloodlust and violence. In fact Athena did what she could to prevent war. Such as in the case of the Trojan War. When the war broke out Athena descended upon the battle site, and made each side swear an oath to keep peace and not attack the other side. Despite her efforts Pandaros, in great cowardice, let loose an arrow, which sparked the battle and the war.

Athena was angry and so joined the Greeks, which in the end allowed the Greeks to claim victory in the war. One of her many great ideas was the use of the Trojan Horse, which was a decisive maneuver that helped consolidate victory. Athena stratagem in battles was so impeccable and effective that Nike, Goddess of Winged Victory, would follow Athena into battle regardless, since Athena, Goddess of wisdom, never lost a battleï¿½.. ever. Athena also had extraordinary courage. She was a goddess who refused to back down from even the most frightening of situations. When Gaia had created the monster Typhon, and it started its rampage towards Olympus, all of the Gods and Goddesses cowered in fear and fled. That is all but Athena, she stayed behind. She was also disgusted by the actions of the other Gods Generally Athena is depicted holding a spear adorning a golden helmet upon her forehead, so basically in attack position. However despite her very warrior-like appearance, Athena was much better known for her role as judge, diplomat, mediator, and advisor than a warrior. She was considered extremely fair and compassionate in all her judgments and her advice.

As a wise advisory many gods, goddesses and heroes sought her amazing advice, and many times she even sought and helped others with her advice, giving them not only advice but also protection, and the ability to win seemingly impossible tasks. In one case she helped Odysseus the hero of the Trojan War. Odysseus won favor with Athena with his intelligence and shrewd nature. She, throughout the epic, implants thoughts and ideas in his head that help his adventure, even descending to Earth when he washes ashore on Nausicaa and instructed the princess to aide him. Even later she appeared to him before he entered the capital where his wife Penelope resided. She tries to convince him that Penelope thinks him dead and has remarried, however Odysseus is able to see through her guise. Athena impressed, disguises Odysseus as a beggar so he might enter undetected and gives him the help and advice he needed to kill his wifeï¿½s suitors and become king again. Similarly Athena also championed the causes of Heracles, the demigod and hero of Greece.

She helped him repeatedly throughout his labors, giving him the insight to know to kill the Nemean Lion by using its own claws to pierce its unbreakable hide. She also assisted in his killing of the Stymphalian Birds and helped him navigate the underworld so he could finally capture Cerberus and complete his twelve labors. Not only was Athena wise beyond any other god or goddess known. Her decisions were also considered highly fair, and she was known for her great compassion in her decision making. In the case of the man called Tiresias, Tiresias accidentally fell upon a lake where he saw a woman bathing. In most cases he wouldï¿½ve been thanking the gods and goddesses for his bountiful luck, however in this case he found extremely bad luck, because the woman he found bathing was the Goddess Athena! Most goddesses would have instinctively cast death upon the individual, for such an offense the punishment was death. However Athena was compassionate and spared him from death. Rather she blinded him and simultaneously gave him the power of prophecy. Tiresias, because of Athenaï¿½s help, became one of the most renowned prophets in all of Greece.

Being as she was calm cool and collected Athena almost never got furious, and was renowned for her almost constant calm. However there is one case where Athena became enraged and did things really not like her. In the story of Arachne, Arachne, the mortal woman, challenged Athena to weaving contest, to see if her weaving was better than the goddess herself. Once the challenge was over Athena very calmly assessed her weaving as well as that of Arachne and deemed them equal in skill as well as beauty. However it wasnï¿½t with the tie that Athena became engraged about. However what did enrage Athena were the depictions in Arachneï¿½s weavings. In her weavings, Arachne depicted the various adulterous affairs of Zeus, Athenaï¿½s father. Angry and livid that Arachne would be so arrogant to mock the God Zeus himself, Athena chased her down after tearing her tapestry into shreds, and when she finally caught up she forced Arachne to hang herself. After Arachne hung herself Athena realized she shouldnï¿½t have lost her cool, and took pity on her.

She turned Arachne into a spider and let her live on, allowing her to weave her beautiful webs for eternity. She also punished those properly who committed acts of Hubris towards the Gods. She found their vanity displeasing and wrought divine judgment upon any mortal who decided that they were better than the immortal Gods and Goddesses, a judgment fitting to their sacrilegious boast. Such was the fate of Medusa. Medusa was once a nymph whose beauty was of grand renown. Men flocked simply to gaze upon her amazing beauty. Of course all this attention eventually got to her head; she began to become a little arrogant. In her arrogance she even claimed that she was even more beautiful than the Goddess Athena. Now Athena didnï¿½t take this claim very well, not to mention the fact that Medusa just committed sacrilege. It was said that Medusa was most proud of her beautiful hair more than anything else. Thus Athena turned Medusa into a monstrous gorgon, also turning her beautiful hair into a nest of deadly snakes. Medusaï¿½s curse made it so that any man who gazed at her face would be turned into stone (I guess she had stone cold good looks now).

This petrifying gaze prevented any man from ever admiring her beauty ever again. Warcraft and advisory were not Athenaï¿½s only talents. Athena was also a renowned artisan and subsequently was known as Goddess of Crafts. People celebrated Athena as the patron goddess of weavers, potters, goldsmiths, sculptors, musicians, and horsemen. It was said that Athena had invented the musical instrument the flute. Made out of deer bones, Athena constructed and crafted this fine musical instrument with great precision and skill. When she finished she played her instrument, and was proud of herself for having created such an amazing instrument. She immediately went to one of the banquets for the Gods and Goddesses, where she played the flute for the guests. However when she played Hera and Aphrodite simply laughed at her, specifically they laughed at the way her cheeks puffed up when she played the flute. Disappointed Athena went to a nearby fountain and gazed into the fountain and played the flute and saw what they were talking about. She found that her performance of the flute indeed made her look ugly, and so she threw away the flute in disgust, so much for her amazing invention.

She also put a curse on the flute saying that whoever picked up the flute would have misfortune befall up on them. Marsyas would be the one to find the flute, and he would eventually challenge Apollo to a musical challenge which Apollo won, and upon victory he flayed Marsyas alive (now not only do his cheeks look puffy but he doesnï¿½t have any skin, thatï¿½s two strikes for the flute). People credit Athena with the invention of the yoke, the bridle, the first sailing ship, and the trumpet. More than any other of the Greek goddesses , Athena is the embodiment of modernism and civilization, with her reasoning, logic, applicable knowledge, and bountiful wisdom. Athena is the reminder to people that wit, intellect, and creativity can be used to solve and problem and achieve any goal. ARACHNE (Arakhne) - Lydian Weaver of Greek Mythology KLOSTER (Pliny Natural History 7.196) ENCYCLOPEDIA ARACHNE (Arakhnê), a Lydian maiden, daughter of Idmon of Colophon, who was a famous dyer in purple.

His daughter was greatly skilled in the art of weaving, and, proud of her talent, she even ventured to challenge Athena to compete with her. Arachne produced a piece of cloth in which the amours of the gods were woven, and as Athena could find no fault with it, she tore the work to pieces, and Arachne in despair hung herself. The goddess loosened the rope and saved her life, but the rope was changed into a cobweb and Arachne herself into a spider (arachnê), the animal most odious to Athena. (Ov. Met. vi. 1-145; Virg. Georg. iv. 246.) This fable seems to suggest the idea that man learnt the art of weaving from the spider, and that it was invented in Lydia. Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES Aelian, Historical Miscellany 1. 2 (trans. Wilson) (Greek rhetorician C2nd to 3rd A.D.) : "Spiders neither know nor wish to know the art and practice of weaving, the gifts of the goddess (daimona) Ergane.

To what use would an animal of this kind put such clothing?" [N.B. Ergane is Athena as the goddess of crafts. Aelian is probably alluding to the tale of Arakhne.] Ovid, Metamorphoses 6. 1 - 148 (trans. Brookes More) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "Pallas [Athena] . . . was brooding thus, ‘It is an easy thing to praise another, I should do as they : no creature of the earth should ever slight the majesty that dwells in me,--without just retribution.’--So her thought was turned upon the fortune of Arachne--proud, who would not ever yield to her the praise won by the art of deftly weaving wool, a girl who had not fame for place of birth, nor fame for birth, but only fame for skill! For it was well known that her father Idmon dwelt in Colophon; where, at his humble trade, he dyed in Phocean purples, fleecy wool. Her mother, also of the lower class, had died.

Arachne in a mountain town Hypaepae by skill had grown so famous in the Land of Lydia, that unnumbered curious nymphs eager to witness her dexterity, deserted the lush vineyards of Tmolus; or even left the cool and flowing streams of bright Pactolus, to admire the cloth, or to observe her deftly spinning wool. So graceful was her motion then,--if she was twisting the coarse wool in little balls, or if she teased it with her finger-tips, or if she softened the fine fleece, drawn forth in misty films, or if she twirled the smooth round spindle with her energetic thumb, or if with needle she embroidered cloth;--in all her motions one might well perceive how much Pallas had instructed her: but this she ever would deny, displeased to share her fame; and said, ‘Let her contend in art with me; and if her skill prevails, I then will forfeit all!’ Pallas [Athena] heard, and came to her, disguised with long grey hair, and with a staff to steady her weak limbs.

She seemed a feeble woman, very old, and quavered as she said, ‘Old age is not the cause of every ill; experience comes with lengthened years; and, therefore, you should not despise my words. It is no harm in you to long for praise of mortals, when your nimble hands are spinning the soft wool,--but you should not deny Minerva's [Athena's] art--and you should pray that she may pardon you, for she will grant you pardon if you ask.’ Arachne, scowling with an evil face. Looked at the goddess, as she dropped her thread. She hardly could restrain her threatening hand, and, trembling in her anger, she replied to you, disguised Pallas : ‘Silly fool,--worn out and witless in your palsied age, a great age is your great misfortune!--Let your daughter and your son's wife--if the gods have blessed you--let them profit by your words; within myself, my knowledge is contained sufficient; you need not believe that your advice does any good; for I am quite unchanged in my opinion.

Get you gone,--advise your goddess to come here herself, and not avoid the contest!’ Instantly, the goddess said, ‘Pallas comes to you!’ And with those brief words, put aside the shape of the old woman, and revealed herself, Minerva, goddess. All the other Nymphae (Nymphs) and matrons of Mygdonia worshiped her; but not Arachne, who defiant stood;--although at first she flushed up--then went pale--then blushed again, reluctant.--So, at first, the sky suffuses, as Aurora (the Dawn) [Eos] moves, and, quickly when the glorious sun comes up, pales into white. She even rushed upon her own destruction, for she would not give from her desire to gain the victory. Nor did the daughter of almighty Jove [Zeus] decline : disdaining to delay with words, she hesitated not. And both, at once, selected their positions, stretched their webs with finest warp, and separated warp with sley.

The woof was next inserted in the web by means of the sharp shuttles, which their nimble fingers pushed along, so drawn within the warp, and so the teeth notched in the moving sley might strike them.--Both, in haste, girded their garments to their breasts and moved their skilful arms, beguiling their fatigue in eager action. Myriad tints appeared besides the Tyrian purple--royal dye, extracted in brass vessels.--As the bow, that spans new glory in the curving sky, its glittering rays reflected in the rain, spreads out a multitude of blended tints, in scintillating beauty to the sight of all who gaze upon it;--so the threads, inwoven, mingled in a thousand tints, harmonious and contrasting; shot with gold: and there, depicted in those shining webs, were shown the histories of ancient days:-- Pallas worked the Athenian Hill of Mars [i.e.

the Areopagus], where ancient Cecrops built his citadel, and showed the old contention for the name it should be given.--Twelve celestial gods surrounded Jupiter [Zeus], on lofty thrones; and all their features were so nicely drawn, that each could be distinguished.--Jupiter appeared as monarch of those judging gods. There Neptunus [Poseidon], guardian of the sea, was shown contending with Minerva [Athena]. As he struck the Rock with his long trident, a wild horse sprang forth which he bequeathed to man. He claimed his right to name the city for that gift. And then she wove a portrait of herself, bearing a shield, and in her hand a lance, sharp-pointed, and a helmet on her head--her breast well-guarded by her Aegis: there she struck her spear into the fertile earth, from which a branch of olive seemed to sprout, pale with new clustered fruits.--And those twelve gods, appeared to judge, that olive as a gift surpassed the horse which Neptunus gave to man.

And, so Arachne, rival of her fame, might learn the folly of her mad attempt, from the great deeds of ancient histories, and what award presumption must expect, Minerva wove four corners with life scenes of contest, brightly colored, but of size diminutive. In one of these was shown the snow-clad mountains, Rhodope, and Haemus, which for punishment were changed from human beings to those rigid forms, when they aspired to rival the high gods. And in another corner she described that Pygmy, whom the angry Juno [Hera] changed from queen-ship to a crane; because she thought herself an equal of the living Gods, she was commanded to wage cruel wars upon her former subjects. In the third, she wove the story of Antigone, who dared compare herself to Juno [Hera], queen of Jupiter [Zeus], and showed her as she was transformed into a silly chattering stork, that praised her beauty, with her ugly beak.--Despite the powers of Ilion and her sire Laomedon, her shoulders fledged white wings.

And so, the third part finished, there was left one corner, where Pallas deftly worked the story of the father, Cinyras;--as he was weeping on the temple steps, which once had been his daughter's living limbs. And she adorned the border with designs of peaceful olive--her devoted tree--which having shown, she made an end of work. Arachne, of Maeonia, wove, at first the story of Europa, as the bull deceived her, and so perfect was her art, it seemed a real bull in real waves. Europa seemed to look back towards the land which she had left; and call in her alarm to her companions--and as if she feared the touch of dashing waters, to draw up her timid feet, while she was sitting on the bull's back.

And she wove Asteria seized by the assaulting eagle; and beneath the swan's white wings showed Leda lying by the stream: and showed Jove [Zeus] dancing as a Satyr, when he sought the beautiful Antiope, to whom was given twins; and how he seemed Amphitryon when he deceived Alcmena; and how he courted lovely Danae luring her as a gleaming shower of gold; and poor Aegina, hidden in his flame, jove as a shepherd with Mnemosyne; and beautiful Proserpina [Persephone], involved by him, apparent as a spotted snake.

And in her web, Arachne wove the scenes of Neptunus [Poseidon]:--who was shown first as a bull, when he was deep in love with virgin Arne then as Enipeus when the giant twins, Aloidae, were begot; and as the ram that gambolled with Bisaltis; as a horse loved by the fruitful Ceres [Demeter], golden haired, all-bounteous mother of the yellow grain; and as the bird that hovered round snake-haired Medusa, mother of the winged horse [Pegasos]; and as the dolphin, sporting with the Nymph, Melantho.--All of these were woven true to life, in proper shades. And there she showed Apollo, when disguised in various forms: as when he seemed a rustic; and as when he wore hawk-wings, and then the tawny skin of a great lion; and once more when he deluded Isse, as a shepherd lad.

And there was Bacchus [Dionysos], when he was disguised as a large cluster of fictitious grapes; deluding by that wile the beautiful Erigone;--and Saturnus [Kronos (Cronus)], as a steed, begetter of the dual-natured Chiron. And then Arachne, to complete her work, wove all around the web a patterned edge of interlacing flowers and ivy leaves. Pallas could not find a fleck or flaw--even Envy can not censure perfect art--enraged because Arachne had such skill she ripped the web, and ruined all the scenes that showed those wicked actions of the gods; and with her boxwood shuttle in her hand, struck the unhappy mortal on her head,--struck sharply thrice, and even once again. Arachne's spirit, deigning not to brook such insult, brooded on it, till she tied a cord around her neck, and hung herself.

Pallas moved to pity at the sight, sustained and saved her from that bitter death; but, angry still, pronounced another doom : ‘Although I grant you life, most wicked one, your fate shall be to dangle on a cord, and your posterity forever shall take your example, that your punishment may last forever!.’ Even as she spoke, before withdrawing from her victim's sight, she sprinkled her with juice--extract of herbs of Hecate. At once all hair fell off, her nose and ears remained not, and her head shrunk rapidly in size, as well as all her body, leaving her diminutive.--Her slender fingers gathered to her sides as long thin legs; and all her other parts were fast absorbed in her abdomen--whence she vented a fine thread;--and ever since, Arachne, as a spider, weaves her web. All Lydia was astonished at her fate the Rumor spread to Phrygia, soon the world was filled with fear and wonder.

Niobe had known her long before,--when in Maeonia near to Mount Sipylus; but the sad fate which overtook Arachne, lost on her, she never ceased her boasting and refused to honor the great gods." Virgil, Georgics 4. 246 ff (trans. Fairclough) (Roman bucolic C1st B.C.) : "The spider, hateful to Minerva [Athena], hangs in the doorway her loose-woven nets." Pliny the Elder, Natural History 7. 196 (trans. Rackham) (Roman encyclopedia C1st A.D.) : "The use of the spindle in the manufacture of woollen [was invented] by Closter son of Arachne, linen and nets by Arachne." SOURCES Aelian, Historical Miscellany - Greek Rhetoric C2nd - 3rd A.D. ROMAN

Question: In Greek mythology, what is the name of the mortal woman who challenged the goddess Athena to a weaving contest and was turned into a spider by Athena?
Answer: Arachne