Arachne | Weaving, Spinning, Athena (2024)

FAQs

What is the myth of Arachne the spinner? ›

Everyone was amazed at her work and one day, Arachne boosted that she had a greater talent than goddess Athena herself. This was an offense towards the gods, which was a very serious and even deadly sin for the ancient Greeks. That is why goddess Athena transformed her into a spider to weave for all her life long.

When Athena saw that Arachne had not only insulted the gods but done so with a work far more beautiful than Athena's own, she was enraged. She ripped Arachne's work to shreds and hit her on the head three times with her shuttle. Shaken and embarrassed, Arachne took her life by hanging.

She was a weaver who acquired such skill that she ventured to challenge Athena to a contest. Athena wove a tapestry showing the gods in majesty, while Arachne depicted them in their amorous adventures. Enraged at the perfection of her rival's work, Athena tore it to shreds, whereupon Arachne hanged herself.

Because of Arachne's vanity and boastfulness, Athena challenged Arachne to a spinning and weaving contest. Arachne lost, and Athena turned her into a spider to ensure that Arachne would never again spin or touch a loom.

What is the moral of the myth of Arachne? No matter how skilled people are, they are never a match for the gods. People need to practice humility and appreciation for their skills and not think they are stronger, wiser, or more intelligent than the gods.

At its heart, Arachne is a story about pride and human limitation. An incredibly talented Weaver, Arachne is a young girl who feeds on the praise of her patrons. Eventually, youth and inexperience, coupled with consciousness of her superb gifts, causes Arachne to boast that her weaving is better even than Athena's.

Athena wove a tapestry depicting the gods in majesty, while that of Arachne showed their amorous adventures. Enraged at the perfection of her rival's work (or, alternatively, offended by its subject matter), Athena tore it to pieces, and in despair Arachne hanged herself.

But why was Medusa cursed? A woman of notable beauty, Medusa was pursued by the sea god Poseidon. Medusa fled from Poseidon and arrived at a shrine to Athena, but Poseidon entered anyway and violated the woman. Athena blamed Medusa for her own suffering and for violating the sacred space by turning her into a monster.

Arachne's tapestry depicted scenes that criticized the gods, while Athena's depicted their greatness. Despite Arachne's exceptional skill, Athena won the contest and punished Arachne for her hubris by transforming her into a spider.

Arachne was used to being wondered at, and she was immensely proud of the skill that had brought so many to look on her. Praise was all she lived for, and it displeased her greatly that people should think anyone, even a goddess, could teach her anything.

Who kills Arachne? ›

I just read the part where Arachne was killed by Brandy, the female tribute from District 10, for taunting her with food. I think Arachne completely deserved it and I only feel bad that Brandy was shot afterwards.

What is the final result of the myth? Arachne and her descendants are condemned to spin the rest of their lives as spiders.

Arachne, in Greek mythology, the daughter of Idmon of Colophon in Lydia, a dyer in purple. Arachne was a weaver who acquired such skill in her art that she ventured to challenge Athena, goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason.

Expert-Verified Answer

According to the myth, Arachne was a gifted weaver. However, her pride gets the better of her, and she boastfully proclaims her talents are far better than that of the Goddess Athena. Enraged at the insult, Athena challenges Arachne to a contest to determine who amongst them is the better weaver.

Clotho (/ˈkloʊθoʊ/, Greek Κλωθώ, [klɔːtʰɔ̌ː], "spinner") spun the thread of life from her distaff onto her spindle. Her Roman equivalent was Nona ("the ninth"), who was originally a goddess called upon in the ninth month of pregnancy.

Though Arachne fell down into the eternal darkness first, she managed to ensnare Annabeth and drag her along to the edge of the pit.