Does anyone know the Greek myth about a woman turned into a spider?

Question

Does anyone know the Greek myth about a woman turned into a spider?

Answer 1

A young Lydian woman, famous for her weaving, who was turned into a spider by Athena. her name is Arachne. (hence to word given to spiders arachnids)

Answer 2

Arachne  was a fine weaver in Hypaepa of Lydia. She was as skillful as the finest artist of the day and much praise was given to her in Hypaepa, where she had her workshop.

This all went to her head and eventually Arachne became so conceited of her skill as a weaver that she began claiming that her skill was greater than that of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war as well as the weaving arts. Athena was angered, but gave Arachne a chance to redeem herself. Assuming the form of an old woman, she warned Arachne not to offend the gods. Arachne scoffed and wished for a weaving contest, so she could prove her skill. Athena dropped her disguise and the contest began.

Athena wove the scene of her victory over Neptune that had inspired the people of Athens to name their city for her.  Arachne's tapestry featured twenty-one episodes of the infidelity of the gods, disguised as animals: Jupiter being unfaithful with Leda, with Europa, with Danaë.

Even Athena admitted that Arachne's work was flawless, but was outraged at Arachne's disrespectful choice of subjects that displayed the failings and transgressions of the gods. Finally losing her temper, she destroyed Arachne's tapestry and loom, striking it with her shuttle, and struck Arachne on the head as well. Arachne realized her folly and was crushed with shame. She ran off and hanged herself.

Athenatook pity on Arachne. Sprinkling her with the juices of aconite, Minerva loosened the rope, which became a spider web, while Arachne herself was changed into a spider.

Answer 3

No but I bet it didn't turn out too good!

Answer 4

Arachne.

Answer 5

Arachne was from Lydia and was a skilled weaver. However, being too proud of herself, she declared that she had better skills in weaving than Athena, goddess of widom, war and the arts. Arachne challenged Athena in a weaving contest but she was defeated. The angered goddess then turned her into a spider, that she may continue to weave all her life.

Answer 6

Yes, it was the myth of Arachne.

In the Greek language, arachne (αράχνη) means spider.

Complete story:

  

Weaving For Eternity: The Tale of Arachne

Arachne was once a very gifted weaver in Greece. Many who viewed her wonderous tapestries thought that she had been trained by Athena herself (Athena was also a master weaver). Whenever someone would say this to Arachne, she became angry. She didn't like the idea of her work being below that of a goddess.

Athena heard about Arachne's attitude and decided to pay her a visit. Athena came to Arachne disguised as an old woman. She warned Arachne not to tempt the wrath of the gods and goddesses. Arachne simply laughed this warning off and proceeded to issue a challenge. She proclaimed that she would gladly challenge Athena to a tapestry weaving competition and said if she lost, she would take whatever punishment she had coming.

This hit a nerve for Athena, so she removed her old woman disguise and formally accepted the challenge layed out by Arachne. The two then began weaving. Athena wove together the scene of her struggle with Poseidon for the city of Athens. The scene depicted Poseidon and the salt water spring and Athena herself with the olive tree. These of course were gifts to the people who would immediately name Athena as their protector and champion and soon after, name their city after her.

Arachne wove together a tapestry depicting scenes of Zeus’ most creative affairs: His seduction of Leda in the form of a swan, Europa with the bull, His golden rain shower over Danaë. The work was so incredible that the bull seemed almost alive, running across the tapestry with an actual living girl on it's shoulders. Even Athena herself found herself in awe of the tapestry.

Athena then got into a fit of rage at this whole challenge and the choice of topics that Arachne chose to depict. Athena then tore up Arachne's beautiful tapestry to shreds. Athena then touched the forehead of Arachne to instill a notion of guilt upon her. This only half worked as Arachne only became ashamed and depressed. Soon after, she hung herself in utter despair.

Athena pitied Arachne. She didn't expect her to commit suicide, nor did she wish for this result, so Athena brought her back to life in the form of a spider so Arachne and all her decendants could weave their work for all eternity.

It is from this tale that we get the term "Arachnid", which is the class name for spiders.

EDIT: I corrected something wrong...