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THE WEAVING
CONTEST
The Story of Arachne and Minerva
G] RACHNE, a proud peasant
girl, was a wonderful spinner and weaver of wool. “The water
nymphs journeyed from their rivers and the wood nymphs from
their forests just to watch Arachne steep her wool in crimson dyes,
then take the long threads ia her skillful fingers and weave exquisite
tapestries.
“Ab! Minerva must have given you your gift!” declared a wood
nymph one day. Minerva was the goddess of weaving and
handicrafts.
‘Arachne threw back her head. “Ha! Minerva has taught me
nothing! I've taught myself everything I know!” And with thet,
she decided to challenge Minerva to a contest, “Let's see which of
us should be called ‘goddess of the loom’!” she said.
‘The nymphs covered their mouths, frightened to hear such
scorn heaped upon a powerful goddess of Moune Olympus,
“Theie fears were justified — for Minerva herself was furious
when word got back to her about Arachne’s conceit. The goddess
immediately donned the disguise of an old woman with gray hair
and hobbled with a cane to Arachne’s cottage.
When Arachne opened her door, Minerva shook her gnarled FAVORITE GREEK MYTHS
finger. “EL were you,” said the old woman, “I would not compare
myself so favorably to the great goddess Minerva. I would feel
bumble coward her and ask her to pardon my prideful arrogance.”
“You silly fool!" said Arachne. “What do you mean by coming
to my door and telling me what to do? If thet goddess is half so
great as the world thinks, let her come here and show me!”
“She is here!” boomed a powerful voice, and before Arachne’s
eyes, the old woman instantly changed into the goddess Minerva.
‘Arachne’s face @ushed with shame. Nevertheless she remained
defiant and plunged headlong toward her doom. “Hello, Minerva,”
she said. “Do you dare to finally weave against me?”
Minerva only glared et the gicl, as the nymphs, peeking from
behind the trees, cringed to watch such insolence,
“Come in if you like,” Arachne said, stepping back from her
doorway and bidding the goddess to enter.
Without speaking, Minerva went into the cottage. Servanes
quickly dashed aboue, setting up two looms. Then Arachne and
Minerva tucked up cheir long dresses and set to work. Their busy
fingers flew back and forth as they each wove rainbows of colors:
dack purples, pinks, golds, and crimsons.
Minerva wove a tapestry showing the twelve greatest gods and
goddesses of Mount Olympus. But Arachne wove a tapestry
showing not only the gods and goddesses, but their advencures
also. Then she bordered her magaificent work with fowers and
ivy.
‘The river aymphs and wood nymphs stared in awe at Arachne’s
tapestry. Her work was clearly better than Minerva's. Even che
goddess Envy who haughtily inspected it, said, “There is no flaw.”
When she heard Envy’s words, Minecva lose her temper. The
goddess tore Arachne’s tapestry and hit her mercilessly — until.
20 THE WEAVING CONTEST
disgraced and humiliated, Arachne crawled away and triéd to hang
herself.
‘At last, moved to a little pity, Minerva, said, “You may live,
‘Arachne, but you will hang forever — and do yout weaving in
the air!”
‘Then the vengeful goddess sprinkled Arachne with hellbane;
and the git’ hair fell off, and her nose and ears fell off. Her head
shrank to @ tiay size until she was mostly a giant bélly. But her
fingers could still weave; and wichin minutes, Arachne, the first
spider on earth, wove the first magnificent web.
