Arachne,
in Greek mythology, a young girl who was so skilled in weaving that she dared to challenge the goddess Athena, a patron of the arts and crafts, to a contest. While Athena wove a tapestry depicting the gods and goddesses in all their splendor, Arachne wove one illustrating their romances. Furious over the perfection of the girl's work, Athena tore it to shreds, and Arachne hanged herself in grief. Out of pity Athena loosened the rope, turning it into a cob-web, and transformed Arachne into a spider.