Arachne was a Lydian girl famous for her excellent weaving and
embroidery. The tapestries she designed were so beautiful that the Nymphs
used to come to admire them. Everyone thought that Arachne received her
skill as a gift from Athena, the patron of spinners and embroiderers. But
Arachne refused to attribute her talent to anyone but herself and challenged
the goddess to a contest. Athena accepted the challenge. Arachne made the
perfect work, but the theme of her tapestry was insulting for the gods.
Athena, outraged with the mortal¡¯s skill and impudent behavior, struck
Arachne with a shuttle and turned her into a spider, which spins and weaves
until it has no more thread.
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