Arachne

Arachne is the story of a girl by the same name who is the best at what she does, which is to say weaving. The only problem with this is that she does not see the skill as a gift from the goddess Minerva, the patron goddess of weaving, but as her own skill. She then becomes arrogant enough to challenge Minerva to a weaving contest. Minerva first appears to Arachne as an old woman and cautions her to give thanks for her gifts and the goddess will forgive her, but Arachne does not heed the warning. Minerva then appears in her true form, and even then Arachne does not back down from her claim as greatest weaver. So the two begin their weavings.

Minerva weaves a tapestry that portrays the founding of her city Athens. Around this central image she also puts four images of different people who challenged the gods and were punished with transformations for their indiscretions.

Arachne, on the other hand, weaves a story of the infidelity of the gods, how several of the most powerful gods tranformed into different beings and raped those they saw as beautiful. Around this central image she put a vine of roses as if in mockery of the image.

In the end it was determined that Arachne's weaving was better. Minerva, in her rage, tore the fabric to shreds and broke the loom. Arachne, disgraced, thought to hang herself with the threads she had so recently used, but Minerva instead turned her into a spider so that she would be eternally punished.