This is a reblog from one of my favorite sites, La Audacia de Aquiles, that was posted by Aquileana on December 13, 2016. This post gives insight to the meaning behind the Greek myth of the spider woman Arachne and provides an overview of similar myths through out the world. Weaving and spinning are such powerful symbols of manipulating the fates of others. A spider spins a web around its prey. The Moirae weave the fates of humans.
Hope you enjoy the post.
“Arachne or Dialectics” by Paolo Veronese. 1520.
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In Greek Mythology, Arachne was a Lydian woman, the daughter of a famous Tyrian purple wool dyer, who was highly gifted in the art of weaving.
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.
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, the Goddess of Wisdom, and began bragging about her skills, proclaiming herself to be far more superior to even Athena.
“Athena and Arachne” by Antonio Tempesta. 1599.
Athena took offense and set up a contest between them. Presenting herself as an old woman.
When they finally met…
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Apollo's Raven 