Arachne's life Arachne was the best weaver in the human world. Arachne was the daughter of a shepherd, who would make his sheep wool purple. The shepard was named Idmon. Her mother was named Colophon. Arachne took weaving lessons from Athena and then went home and made beautiful tapestries. Everybody loved her designs, which were full of color and with hard designs. The nymphs from the forests liked to watch her weave. One of these nymphs asked Arachne if she was given her talent for weaving from Athena. Arachne was too proud to admit that Athena taught her and said her weaving was better than any god's weaving.
Athena heard about the conversation and became so angry, she came down from the heavens as an old woman to warn Arachne that she shouldn't offend the gods. Arachne said to the old woman, to save her breath, that she was better than Athena and could beat her in a challenge. Athena was very angry and said "Arachne, you've gone too far!" and they agreed to a weaving duel. They wove from morning until it was so dark they could not see.
When the contest was over, Arachne's tapestry of Zeus' infidelities and the gods doing bad things and getting drunk, was judged to be very good, especially the pretty border. Athena made a tapestry of Poseidon and herself battling to become the patron god of Athens. Athena was so angry that Arachne's weaving was so well done, even though it made fun of the gods, she tore up the tapestry that Arachne made and scolded her, touching her head to make sure she felt guilty. Arachne felt so ashamed, she became depressed and hung herself. Athena felt bad for her and brought Arachne back to life, turning her into a spider. Athena made Arachne a spider so that she can weave forever. Arachne was the worlds first spider.