Metamorphoses · Chapter
Transformation of Arachne Into a Spider explained
Arachne, a mortal renowned for her weaving skill, challenges the goddess Minerva to a contest.
What happens
Arachne, a mortal renowned for her weaving skill, challenges the goddess Minerva to a contest. Minerva, disguised as an old woman, warns her to yield, but Arachne refuses. In the weaving contest, Minerva depicts the gods' power and punishment of mortals, while Arachne portrays the gods' amorous deceptions. Enraged by Arachne's flawless work, Minerva tears the tapestry and strikes Arachne, who hangs herself. Minerva transforms her into a spider, condemning her and her descendants to weave forever.
Themes in this chapter
Transformation and Metamorphosis
Arachne is transformed into a spider as punishment for her pride, a central metamorphosis in the chapter.
Divine Power and Human Folly
Arachne's hubris in challenging Minerva leads to her downfall, illustrating the consequences of defying divine authority.
Art and Creativity
The weaving contest showcases artistic skill and creativity, with both tapestries depicting complex narratives and techniques.
Violence and Revenge
Minerva's vengeful response to Arachne's defiance includes striking her and imposing a cruel transformation.
Characters to notice
- Minerva
Goddess of wisdom and crafts, challenged by Arachne; disguises herself as an old woman, then reveals her divine form; weaves a tapestry depicting the gods' power and punishes Arachne by transforming her into a spider.
- Arachne
A mortal weaver of humble birth from Lydia, renowned for her skill; pridefully challenges Minerva to a contest, weaves a tapestry showing the gods' deceptions, and is transformed into a spider after attempting suicide.
- Jove
King of the gods, depicted in Minerva's tapestry presiding over the debate for Athens' name; also featured in Arachne's tapestry in various amorous disguises.
- Neptune
God of the sea, shown in Minerva's tapestry striking a rock to produce a horse; also appears in Arachne's tapestry in multiple transformations for love.
- Apollo
Mentioned in Arachne's tapestry as Phoebus, disguised as a country swain for love of Isso.
- Bacchus
Depicted in Arachne's tapestry as the clustering grape, melting into Erigone's lap.
- Ceres
Shown in Arachne's tapestry as a mare, pursued by Neptune in a steed's form.
- Juno
Referenced in Minerva's tapestry as the goddess whose name was profaned by the Pigmaean dame, and whose vengeance fell on Antigone.
Key passages
“Pallas, attending to the muse’s song, Approved the just resentment of their wrong, And thus reflects: “While tamely I commend Those who their injured deities defend, My own divinity affronted stands, And calls aloud for justice at my hands;””
Minerva, listening to the Muse's story, agrees with the punishment of those who offend the gods, and realizes that her own honor has been insulted, demanding vengeance.
Minerva decides to act against Arachne after hearing about other divine punishments.
“The goddess then a beldam’s form put on; With silver hairs her hoary temples shone; Propp’d by a staff, she hobbles in her walk, And, tottering, thus begins her old wives’ talk:”
Minerva disguises herself as an old woman with white hair, leaning on a cane, and speaks to Arachne with advice.
Minerva adopts a humble disguise to warn Arachne.
“The unhappy maid, impatient of the wrong, Down from a beam her injured person hung; When Pallas, pitying her wretched state, At once prevented and pronounced her fate: “Live; but depend, vile wretch,” the goddess cried, “Doom’d in suspense for ever to be tied;””
Arachne, unable to bear the insult, hangs herself from a beam. Minerva, taking pity on her, stops her death and declares she will live, but as a spider hanging forever.
Minerva transforms Arachne's suicide into a perpetual state of suspension as a spider.
