Athena and Arachne: The Girl Who Challenged the Goddess - Greek Mythology in Comics-See U in History

Summary

The story follows Arachne, a gifted weaver from Lydia, whose skills grew so remarkable that she was compared to the goddess Athena. However, Arachne rejected the idea that her talent was a divine gift and challenged Athena to a weaving contest. The goddess disguised herself as an old woman to warn Arachne, but the defiant weaver stood firm. Arachne's work, which criticized the gods, enraged Athena. In punishment, Arachne was transformed into a spider, yet continued to weave even more skillfully, proving her exceptional talent.

Takeaways

• 🧶 Arachne was a young girl from Lydia who loved weaving with wool and threads from her father's shop.
• 🎨 As she grew, Arachne developed extraordinary skills in weaving and embroidery, earning a reputation as a master weaver.
• 👑 Nobles from across the region ordered her work, and even the nymphs visited her to admire her creations.
• 😲 Arachne rejected the idea that her talent was a gift from the goddess Athena, claiming it came from her own hard work.
• ⚡ Athena, angered by Arachne's arrogance, disguised herself as an old woman and visited Arachne's workshop to warn her.
• 🧵 Arachne challenged Athena, claiming that her works were more beautiful than those of the goddess.
• 🌊 Athena and Arachne engaged in a weaving contest, with Athena depicting her victory over Poseidon and Arachne showing the gods' deceitful actions.
• 🔥 Athena became enraged, not only because of the offensive content of Arachne's work but because it was perfect and flawless.
• 🕷️ As punishment for her arrogance, Athena transformed Arachne into a spider, but this did not diminish her weaving abilities.
• 👏 In the end, even Athena had to admit that Arachne was truly a remarkable weaver, despite her punishment.

Q & A

Who is Arachne, and what was her talent?

Arachne was a young woman from Lydia who had an exceptional talent for weaving and embroidery. She became renowned for her artistry and skill.

How did people react to Arachne’s weaving abilities?

Arachne's weaving abilities gained her a great reputation. Nobles from all over the region ordered her work, and even the nymphs came out of hiding to admire her art.

What did people attribute Arachne's talent to, and how did she respond?

People believed Arachne's talent was a gift from the goddess Athena, the patroness of weavers. However, Arachne rejected this idea, claiming her skills were due to her own hard work and dedication, not divine intervention.

How did Athena become involved in the story of Arachne?

Athena heard that Arachne claimed to surpass the goddess in weaving, which angered her. Disguised as an old woman, Athena visited Arachne to warn her about the consequences of comparing herself to the gods.

What challenge did Arachne issue to Athena?

Arachne boldly challenged Athena to a weaving contest, confident that her work was more beautiful than that of the goddess.

What was the result of the weaving contest between Arachne and Athena?

Athena created a tapestry depicting her victory over Poseidon, while Arachne wove scenes showing the gods in a less flattering light, including Zeus deceiving Europa. Arachne's work was perfect, which enraged Athena.

Why did Athena become angry with Arachne, and what did she do in response?

Athena became angry not just because Arachne depicted the gods in an unfavorable way, but also because Arachne's work was flawless. In her anger, Athena destroyed Arachne's tapestry.

How did Athena punish Arachne?

Athena punished Arachne by turning her into a spider, a creature with eight legs, as a consequence of her pride and defiance.

What irony did Athena realize after transforming Arachne into a spider?

Athena realized that by turning Arachne into a spider, she had unintentionally made Arachne an even better weaver, as she continued to create intricate webs.

What was Athena's final reaction to Arachne's work after her transformation?

Athena, seeing Arachne's weaving abilities as a spider, begrudgingly admitted Arachne's skill, saying, 'Damn her, she really is good.'