Arachne

Ărachnē, ēs, f., = Ἀράχνη (a spider).

• Myth., a Lydian maiden, who challenged Minerva to a trial of skill in spinning, and, as a punishment, was changed by the goddess into a spider, Ov. M. 6, 5 sq. (another form, Ărachnēa, ae, = Ἀράχνεια, like Calliopēa from Calliope, Manil. 4, 135).—
• II Arachne, a kind of sundial, Vitr. 9, 9.

1. Arachnē, ēs, f. (Ἀράχνη), eine lydische Jungfrau, Tochter des Kolophoniers Idmon, eines Purpurfärbers, die als kunstvolle Spinnerin sich mit Athene (Minerva) in einen Wettstreit einließ, worauf Athene das tadellose Gewebe der Arachne im Zorn zerriß, sie selbst, als sie sich aus Gram erhängen wollte, zwar am Leben erhielt, aber verdammte, als Spinne immer zu hangen, Ov. met. 6, 5, sqq. Manil. 4, 135 sq. (wo die Nbf. Arachnēa, Ἀράχνεια); vgl. Serv. Verg. georg. 4, 246. – appell. = Spinne, Seren. Sam. 966. – Dav. Arachnēus, a, um, arachneisch, poet. = spinnend, webend, pecten, Anthol. Lat. 742, 48 (1143, 48).

2 Ărachnē, (16) ēs, f. , Arachné [jeune fille changée en araignée par Minerve] : Ov. M. 6, 5 ; -næus ou -nēus, a, um, imité dʼArachné : Anth. 732, 48 || -nēa, æ, f. , Manil. 4, 135, Arachné.

Arachné

(Ἀράχνη). A Lydian maiden, daughter of Idmon of Colophon, a famous dyer in purple. Arachné excelled in the art of weaving, and, proud of her talent, ventured to challenge Athené to compete with her. The maiden produced a piece of cloth in which the amours of the gods were woven, and as the goddess could find no fault with it she tore the work to pieces. Arachné, in despair, hanged herself. Athené loosened the rope and saved her life, but the rope was changed into a cobweb, and Arachné herself into a spider (ἀράχνη). This fable seems to suggest that man learned the art of weaving from the spider, and that it was invented in Lydia.