Download Spiders in Greek Mythology Introduction There is only one story

Spiders in Greek Mythology
Introduction
There is only one story surrounding spiders in Greek mythology and that concerns the weaving
contest between Athene and Arachne. Narrated in Ovid’s ‘Metamorphoses’ and referred to in
Virgil’s ‘Georgics’ this fable is the Roman telling of a myth with Greek influences. As there is little
evidence from Ancient Greek times of spider myths it is safe to say that spiders did not play a great
part in Greek culture and mythology.
Apollodorus’ Library of Greek Mythology
Apollodorus, it is not known exactly who he was or when he wrote, produced a concise but
comprehensive guide to Greek mythology. It covers the full mythological history from the universal
origin to the Trojan Wars. The ‘library’ was used as a source for other writers to build upon. There
are no references to spiders within Apollodorus’ work. Athene, as a principal goddess, has many
stories attributed to her within the work but the fable surrounding Arachne is not mentioned.
Depictions of Greek Myths
The subject matter of Greek myths was also depicted in works of art, either in paintings, decoration
on vases or sculptures. Evidence has not been found of any Greek myths involving spiders before the
merging of Roman-Greco mythologies; Attic vase decorators did not make reference to the Arachne
fable. It can be assumed that it was therefore unlikely that the Ancient Greek mythology made
reference to spiders prior to Roman times.
Roman-Greco Mythology
With the decline of the Greek empire and the advent of the Roman empire there was a merging of
the Greek and Roman mythologies. The story of Athene and Arachne is told in the works of Ovid and
Virgil with Athene given the name of the equivalent Roman goddess, Minerva. The name of Arachne
was retained meaning, as it does in Greek, spider.
The Fable of Arachne
Arachne was the daughter of a famous wool dyer of Colophon; she was known as the finest weaver
in the area and she became conceited as to her skills as a result. Arachne’s conceit led her to claim
that her skills were greater than those of Athene, the goddess of wisdom and war and the weaving
arts. Athene gave Arachne a chance to redeem herself appearing before Arachne as an old woman
and telling Arachne to respect the gods, at which Arachne scoffed and wished for a weaving contest.
Athene was envious of Arachne’s work which depicted the infidelity of the gods and in a fit of fury
destroyed Arachne’s tapestry and loom and slashing Arachne’s face. Arachne refused to bow to
Athene and hanged herself instead. Athene took pity on Arachne and loosed the rope, sprinkled her
with aconite, the result was the rope became a web and Arachne turned into a spider able to
continue her spinning and weaving as a spider.