Unravelling the Story of Arachne the Spinner - The Original SpiderwomanDiscover one of the most powerful stories of ancient Greece - The Fate of Arachne, as she strives against her divine opponent in a clash of wit and craftsmanship.
Arachne created a variety of exquisite pictures on her fabric that were so realistic that the viewer almost felt as though they were actually happening. People travelled great distances to view her exquisite work. Her completed goods were stunning to look at, but even watching her weave was amazing. Even the forest nymphs would cease their games and gaze in awe.
Arachne was extremely conceited and rightfully proud of her accomplishments. Her creations were so exceptional that people frequently remarked that Athena, the goddess of learning and the arts who is also recognised for her skill in spinning and weaving beautiful pictures, must have trained her. This was mocked by Arachne. Why should she be positioned beneath the goddess despite her talent?
She would brag to her guests that only the Goddess could make better work.
Athena was furious at learning of Arachne's audacious assertion, but she chose to offer the young woman a second chance. She went to see Arachne dressed as an elderly peasant woman one day. She gently cautioned her to be careful not to compare her abilities to those of an immortal so as to not offend the gods. But Arachne advised the elderly woman to hold her breath. She bragged that she looked forward to competing against Athena and vowed never to weave again if she lost.
At this point, Athena showed her true self. Arachne held her ground despite the extreme fear of the spectators who had come to see her weave. She had asserted something, and now she would demonstrate it.
They agreed to compete by making individual tapestries. The contest started when the goddess Athena and the mortal Arachne both set up their respective looms in the same room. From early in the morning until it became too dark to see, they weaved. They compared their actions the following day.
A magnificent cloth created by Athena depicted the gods and goddesses working together on Mount Olympus to benefit humanity. The threads had become a gorgeous sight. The participants in the competition were in awe of the goddess' creations. But Arachne had created a piece of clothing that mocked the deities. They were shown getting wasted and acting inappropriately. But the work of the mortal was so flawless that the characters in the scenario appeared to be real.
Athena was even more enraged than usual when she saw it. She felt compelled to acknowledge the perfection of Arachne's work, but the insulting selection of the subject eventually caused her to lose her cool. Arachne's tapestry and loom were shattered by Athena. She then touched her forehead to express her regret for what she had done.
Arachne felt humiliated, but the weight of her guilt was too great for a mortal to bear. When Arachne realised her error, she was overcome with shame. She fled into a nearby wood while terrified and distraught, where she hanged herself on a tree.
Arachne's suicide had caught Athena off guard, so she felt sorry for her.
Athena removed the rope, which had turned into a cobweb, and sprinkled Arachne with the aconite plant's secretions before softly instructing her to "spin if you choose to spin." When Athena spoke, Arachne slowly came back to life, but not in human form; instead, her nose and ears vanished, her arms and legs grew long and slender, and new legs sprouted alongside them; after that, her entire body shrank until she was no bigger than a tiny spider.
Arachne was cursed to live the remainder of her life hanging from a thread. She was also a master weaver, and her ancestors are still at work creating magical webs today.
