Athena: goddess of wisdom, crafts and more. A true queen in the eyes of the Greeks. She even has her own temple, and at times people worshiped her like they do Beyonce. Even though she’s a timeless goddess, she does have her ups and downs when her temper gets the most of her — especially when people prove they are better than a goddess like herself.
Ted-Ed made a video about the Myth of Arachne, with the lesson by Iseult Gillespie. Ted-Ed and Gillepsie did a great job telling this story, and their video was used to better understand the tale.
The tale of Arachne, the origin of the spider. Why are they so good at spinning their webs, and who was the poor soul that suffered from Athena’s wrath?
Emily Pearce | Argonaut
The tale started out with a beautiful girl named Arachne, known for weaving her tapestry like a spider who knows its silk. She was so good at making tapestries that people would crowd around her, fascinated by her talent.
The more people who came to watch her weave, the more her ego grew. Arachne would be caught saying her talents surpassed anyone mortal or godlike, a greater being.
Arachne saw her gift as her own “personal genius” and refused to think of her weaving skills as a gift from the gods.
While Arachne was boasting about her own talent, Athena came down to see the cause of the commotion. She disguised herself as an old woman and wandered through the crowd. When Arachne prided her own personal talent, Athena (now the old woman) confronted her about how her talent was nothing more than a gift from the gods.
Arachne laughed at the old woman and told her the gods had nothing to do with herself or her weaving skills.
Athena, feeling disrespected and provoked, revealed herself changing from the older woman to her true form, a goddess. She challenged Arachne in a weaving contest to test and see if her gift was for her own personal gloating.
Arachne accepted the challenge without blinking an eye.
Athena weaved a beautiful tapestry showing the power of the gods. Poseidon riding the sea, Zeus playing with thunderbolts, and Apollo riding the sky. It was a beautiful tapestry, but not what Arachne brought to the table.
Arachne’s tapestry was filled with color and gods abusing their power. The tapestry was so well done it was as if it was alive. Arachne won the contest and Athena was angry.
Enraged, Athena turned Arachne into a spider. If she was so great at weaving, then she could spend eternity weaving her webs. It is said that her and her children are forever cursed and remain in the form of a spider. She still weaves her webs to this day.
Athena turned Arachne into a spider for assuming that the gods were “untouchable.” She justified her actions with the assumption that Arachne was too prideful and ungrateful for the gift the gods gave her.
Even though Arachne’s persistence and obvious skill got the best of her, the story is about priding the skill others have taught you.
In the present, this story seems wrong and Athena’s temper got the better of her. Most Greek mythology is known for telling a lesson. In this story, it can either be to watch one’s temper or not be so naive about innate gifted skill.
Emily Pearce can be reached at [email protected]