Arachne | Victoria Olt

2020

Acrylic and handmade watercolor on paper.

12 x 16 in
31 x 41 cm + frame included for free in shipments within Estonia

} Arachne {

Arachne was the daughter of a shepherd. She was a magnificent weaver and her skills were so great that she even challenged the Goddess Athena (who amongst war and wisdom, was also the Goddess of handicraft) . In the contest Athena weaves a beautiful tapestry showing Gods in all their majesty, while Arachne makes an even more skilled weave, depicting the Gods in amorous debaucheries with mortals. In one variation Athena punishes her for her arrogance in daring to challenge and disrespect a God. In another, the contest happens to settle a dispute between Athena and Poseidon - after the contest Athena touches Arachne’s forehead and she becomes so ashamed of the scene she wove, that she hangs herself. Athena realizes that this all happened because she was caught in a fight between Gods and takes pity on her by bringing her back to life as a spider.