Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
XIV: Minerva—Niobe explained
This chapter recounts the myths of Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, and the tragic stories of Arachne and Niobe.
What happens
This chapter recounts the myths of Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, and the tragic stories of Arachne and Niobe. Minerva, born from Jupiter's brain, presides over arts and defensive war, winning Athens by producing the olive tree. Arachne, a mortal weaver, challenges Minerva to a contest and, after weaving scenes of the gods' misdeeds, is transformed into a spider. Niobe, proud of her seven sons and seven daughters, boasts over Latona and is punished by Apollo and Diana, who kill all her children, turning her into a weeping stone. The chapter also includes poetic and artistic references to these myths.
Themes in this chapter
Hubris and Divine Retribution
Both Arachne and Niobe display hubris by challenging or boasting against the gods, leading to severe punishment—transformation and death of loved ones.
Mortality and Immortality
Mortals like Arachne and Niobe are contrasted with immortal gods; their punishments result in permanent, transformed states (spider, stone) that blur the line between life and death.
Jealousy and Revenge
Minerva's jealousy of Arachne's skill and Latona's revenge on Niobe for her boasts drive the central conflicts of the chapter.
Characters to notice
- Minerva
Goddess of wisdom, daughter of Jupiter, patron of arts and defensive war; competes with Neptune for Athens and punishes Arachne.
- Arachne
Mortal weaver who challenges Minerva to a contest and is transformed into a spider for her presumption.
- Niobe
Queen of Thebes who boasts of her children over Latona, leading to the death of all her offspring and her transformation into a weeping stone.
- Jupiter
King of the gods, father of Minerva, depicted in Minerva's web and in Arachne's scenes of divine deception.
- Neptune
God of the sea, competes with Minerva for Athens by offering the horse.
- Phoebus Apollo
God who, with Diana, slays Niobe's sons as punishment for her hubris.
- Danaë
Depicted in Arachne's web as being seduced by Jupiter in a golden shower.
- Europa
Depicted in Arachne's web as being abducted by Jupiter disguised as a bull.
Key passages
“She was changed to stone, within and without. Yet tears continued to flow; and borne on a whirlwind to her native mountain, she still remains, a mass of rock, from which a trickling stream flows, the tribute of her never-ending grief.”
Niobe was turned entirely into stone, but her tears kept flowing; carried by a whirlwind to her homeland, she remains a rock with a stream that symbolizes her eternal sorrow.
Describes Niobe's transformation into a weeping rock as the culmination of her punishment.
“Minerva struck the web with her shuttle and rent it in pieces; she then touched the forehead of Arachne and made her feel her guilt and shame.”
Minerva destroyed Arachne's tapestry and touched her forehead, causing Arachne to experience overwhelming guilt and shame.
Highlights Minerva's direct intervention and Arachne's subsequent despair.