Who was turned into a spider by Athena?

Arachne is the figure in Greek mythology who was turned into a spider by Athena. This transformation resulted from a tapestry contest between Arachne and the goddess. Arachne, a highly skilled mortal weaver, boasted that her weaving was superior to that of Athena. When they competed, Arachne created a beautiful tapestry that depicted the flaws and misdeeds of the gods, which angered Athena. As punishment for her hubris and disrespect, Athena transformed Arachne into a spider, condemning her to weave for eternity.

The story of Arachne serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of pride and the importance of recognizing the power of the gods. Arachne's name, in fact, is the root for the word "arachnid," which includes spiders, linking her directly to her fate as a weaver forever spinning webs. This myth illustrates the interaction between mortals and divine beings in Greek mythology, highlighting themes of human limitation and the reverence owed to the gods.