THE STORY OF ARACHNE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 September 1927, Page 18

THE STORY OF ARACHNE

Arachne was a Lydian maiden. Nearly all her time she spent in spinning and weaving. Whirr! whirr! whirr! went her wheel from morning until night, and the delicate threads that she spun she wove into beautiful tapestries.

Arachne’s father, idmon, was a famous dyer. He dyed some of Arachne'a threads a rich purple colour, and when she wove them into her tapestries she made more wonderful pictures than she had ever made before. Now the fame of Arachne’s weaving spread far and wide, and people came from all parts to see her tapestries, to praise them, and to buy. At last Arachne became so vain and proud that one day as she sat spinning she exclaimed: “I am sure Pallas Athene could not weave more beautifully than I. How I wish 1 could have a match with her!” Pallas Athene, the great goddess of war and wisdom, was the goddess of spinning and weaving as well. 'She heard Arachne's words, for the Gods can hear all that mortals say. and just as Arachne had finished speaking she turned around to find an old woman, leaning on a stick, standing by her side. “ Take back your words, rash maiden, before it is too late!” the old woman said. “But I do not wish to take, them back,” replied proud Arachne. “I say again 1 wish I could have a weaving match with Pallas Athene, am sure I can weave as well as she.” Your wish shall be granted, then!” cried the old woman. .She threw offj her cloak and stood erect. She was Pallas Athene, the great goddess herself! "When Arachne saw the 'Goddessstanding there, in all her glory, she began to feel afraid. “Fetch me a weaving frame,” commanded Athene, and Arachne brought one and placed it by her own. Then they both began to weave. For some time they'worked in silence and at last the tapestries were complete. Then Arachne looked at Athene's and knew at once that it was far more beautiful than her own. She tiied to run away, but the Goddess touched her on the head. As you are so proud of your spinning and weaving." she said “you and your children Sl-all spin and weave for evermore!" Then Arachne began to shrink. Smaller and smaller sho became until she had changed into a spider. And as a spider sho remained. People for a long time called Arachne and her children “spinners,” for they were always spinning and weaving webs. But at last, the name was changed to the one we know to-dav.