Athēne.Glyptothek, Munich.
Athēne.Glyptothek, Munich.
Athēne wrought on her web the scene of her contest with Posidon. Twelve of the heavenly powers were represented, Zeus with august gravity sitting inthe midst. Posidon, the ruler of the sea, held his trident, and appeared to have just smitten the earth, from which a horse had leaped forth. The bright-eyed goddess depicted herself with helmeted head, her ægis covering her breast, as when she had created the olive tree, with its berries and its dark green leaves. But the most astonishing example of her skill appeared in a butterfly, so beautiful that only a poet can describe it properly. Listen to the charming description of the poet Spenser:
Amongst these leaves she made a Butterfly,With excellent device and wondrous slight;Fluttering among the olives wantonly,That seemed to live, so like it was in sight;The velvet nap which on his wings doth lie,The silken down with which his back is dight;His broad outstretchèd horns, his hairy thighs,His glorious colors, and his glistening eyes.Which when Arachne saw, as overlaidAnd masterèd with workmanship so rare,She stood astonished long, ne aught gainsaid;And with fast fixèd eyes on her did stare.
Amongst these leaves she made a Butterfly,With excellent device and wondrous slight;Fluttering among the olives wantonly,That seemed to live, so like it was in sight;The velvet nap which on his wings doth lie,The silken down with which his back is dight;His broad outstretchèd horns, his hairy thighs,His glorious colors, and his glistening eyes.Which when Arachne saw, as overlaidAnd masterèd with workmanship so rare,She stood astonished long, ne aught gainsaid;And with fast fixèd eyes on her did stare.
Amongst these leaves she made a Butterfly,With excellent device and wondrous slight;Fluttering among the olives wantonly,That seemed to live, so like it was in sight;The velvet nap which on his wings doth lie,The silken down with which his back is dight;His broad outstretchèd horns, his hairy thighs,His glorious colors, and his glistening eyes.Which when Arachne saw, as overlaidAnd masterèd with workmanship so rare,She stood astonished long, ne aught gainsaid;And with fast fixèd eyes on her did stare.
Amongst these leaves she made a Butterfly,
With excellent device and wondrous slight;
Fluttering among the olives wantonly,
That seemed to live, so like it was in sight;
The velvet nap which on his wings doth lie,
The silken down with which his back is dight;
His broad outstretchèd horns, his hairy thighs,
His glorious colors, and his glistening eyes.
Which when Arachne saw, as overlaid
And masterèd with workmanship so rare,
She stood astonished long, ne aught gainsaid;
And with fast fixèd eyes on her did stare.
Such was the central circle of Athēne’s web; and in the four corners were represented incidents illustrating the displeasure of the gods at such presumptuous mortals as had dared to contend with them. These were meant as warnings from Athēne to her rival to give up the contest before it was too late.
But Arachne did not yield. She filled her web with subjects designedly chosen to exhibit the failings and errors of the gods, wonderfully well done,but strongly marking her presumption and impiety. Athēne could not forbear to admire, yet was indignant at the insult. She struck the web with her shuttle, and rent it in pieces; then, touching the forehead of Arachne, she made her realize her guilt. It was more than mortal could bear; and forthwith Arachne hanged herself. “Live, guilty woman,” said Athēne, “but that thou mayest preserve the memory of this lesson, continue to hang, both thou and thy descendants, to all future times.” Then sprinkling her with the juices of aconite, the goddess transformed her into a spider, forever spinning the thread by which she is suspended.