Comments

• Jon B

  It seems to me that Arachnes was better but Athena could not tolerate the fact that she ridiculed the gods, therefore ripped it up and hit her on the head. I feel the moral of this story is that you should never mess with the higher power even if you are better at something because no doubt you will lose.

  9/16/2009 12:49:17 PM
• Gabi

  I agree with Jon. Arachnes was probably better than Athena. She started to boast about her skills because many people thought that she did a good job with her weaving. She didn't heed the advice given to her by Athena and ended up making a mockery of the gods. I think that the moral of this story is that you should take into consideration the advice given to you and especially respect and listen to those who have higher power.

  9/16/2009 6:49:39 PM
• Grace Riccobene

  I agree Jon but ot makes me wondre what Athena would have done if in Arachneses tapistry had not riduculed the gods? What if Arachnes was just better? Its almost like Arachnes may be good at weaving but it doesnt even matter because she is so arigent. That if you have a bad attitude it doesnt make a difference how good you are at something no one can get passed your attitude so all your work is ruined and unaprishiated. I also think it is interesting that like in "Lycaon" Arachnes is turned into an animal/ insect for disrespecting the gods like Lycoan was. I think it was to show the human race that they really have to respect there elders and people who are in higher power than they are because if they dont they will have to suffer. They Kind of us scare tactics.

  9/16/2009 7:00:15 PM
• Cummings

  Grace - an astute observation when you note that it wasn't being talented, but for arrogance that Arachne is punished.

  9/16/2009 7:29:40 PM
• Jon S

  Arachne was skillful at what she did but she shouldnt have disrespected Athena. The reason Athena punished Arachne was not because of her weaving, but because she did not respect Athena. The relation i see between Lycaon and Arachne is that they both disrespected the gods and were punished by both being turned into animals.

  9/16/2009 8:06:00 PM
• Nikki

  I agree with Jon B. Yes Arachne may have been more talented, but she should have realized that Athena was of higher power. She should have stepped back to realize what she was dealing with and the seriousness of what the consequence could potentially be. If Arachne is more talented she should be proud of it, but keep it to herself rather than display arrogance.

  9/16/2009 9:05:31 PM
• michael hart

  I think the moral of the story is just to stay humble to youre superiors. or else you get turned in to a spyder

  9/16/2009 10:27:38 PM
• Cummings

  Michael -
  I think you have the Greek moral down. Do you think this is applicable today? How does this moral fit into our own society, where equality and democracy are cornerstones? Do we still believe in always respecting our 'superiors,' as you put it?

  9/16/2009 10:50:25 PM
• Cummings

  Nikki - similar to my question for Michael, would you consider Athena to be arrogant? Sure, she's a goddess, but does that automatically mean she is better than her human counterparts?
  
  'Surely,' said the serpent to Eve, 'you would become godlike in eating the fruit.' Are humans to blame for the fruit tree being there? Is Arachne to blame for the gifts given her by the gods themselves?

  9/16/2009 10:54:21 PM
• Shavanna

  Jon and Nikki, I understand what you're saying and it's definitely a big part of the myth, but are you guys saying that you should never stand up to someone who has a greater power of you? Should you just be fearful your whole life? I think that sometimes and maybe not in this case, it's important to question the people who have a greater power over you. If you didn't do that then you would never learn. Yes, Arachne was a little over the top with it, but I think it's also showing that it's okay to stand up to someone just don't get too carried away with it.

  9/16/2009 11:35:05 PM
• McLovin

  Wow that story is quite interesting. Arachne should have just had respect for Athena and none of that would have happened. This story is just a radical example of why you should respect your elders

  9/17/2009 1:54:54 PM
• McLovin

  I agree with Nikki and Jon, Athena was much superior to Arachne in position and rank

  9/17/2009 1:58:31 PM
• McLovin

  I also think that Athena should heve listened to the old lady

  9/17/2009 1:58:59 PM
• Abby

  this story creeped me out. I totally agree with Grace. If Arachne would have been respectful and kind to the gods and the old woman, would her tapestry have won? Idk. Anyway i think that it is really interesting that all of these myths show how something happens. like how spiders weave so beautifly.

  9/17/2009 4:12:21 PM
• Andrea

  Nikki, i agree with you. I think that Archne's arrogance was what got her into this mess in the first place. If Archne wasnt as arrogant would she have still challenged Athena? If Archne would have set her arrogance aside in the myth then i think she would have realized the consequences in what she was doing. And would have never challenged Athena.

  9/17/2009 5:26:55 PM
• Jon B

  Ok well first explain is spelled wrong on question three. I don't know if anyone already said that but yeah. Ok but if Arachne wasn't so arrogant then this tale would not be, because if she wasn't so egotistical she wouldn't have even been so disobliging to Athena in the first place.....

  9/17/2009 9:05:18 PM
• Olivia

  Greek myths tend to punish humans by turning them into animals? Why is this?

  9/17/2009 9:08:50 PM
• Victoria

  Ok, i think Arachne could have just won the contest fair and square if she didnt boast about how good she was. She is sort of just stupid because everyone already knew how good she was, instead of being punished for being disrespectfull to Athena she could have just done the contest and won. Athena was also kind of mercyless. Arachne should have known that she was going to be punished

  9/17/2009 9:31:11 PM
• Lawrence R

  i think that there is also a moral regarding arrogance, and respecting you elders. if arachne hadn't been so cocky about her weaving skills then she would've gone on being admired by everyone who saw her work. also if she had respected the old lady athena had transformed herself into she would've never gotten transformed.

  9/17/2009 9:46:07 PM
• Misha

  How crazy was it that Achache was so sure of herself that she was willing to take on a GOD!!! but I do agree with Shavanna. It is important to show your talents and be proud of them. It is important for us to stand up to people that have higher power. But then again, we need to be humble enough to learn from our piers or be people that are more powerful than us. I think that this story can be interpreted in a few different ways.

  9/17/2009 10:35:49 PM
• Cummings

  Olivia - perhaps to remind us of our middle ground in between animals and gods?

  9/17/2009 10:46:53 PM
• B Spencer

  The moral of this story, like many others is to always respect your elders and higher powers because they most of the time have experience and knowledge that you don't. "Old age deserves respect. Long years bring a person broad experience." This is what Athena tried to tell Arachne. But of course being the arrogant person she is, scowled at her presence and disobeyed. This story is almost the same as Lycaon. In that story Lycaon was rude and disobeyed the gods. In return Zeus pretended to be someone else just as Athena did. (daughter like father). When each of them got to the houses of Lycaon and Arachne, they both got treated as if they weren't important. These two myths both stress on the point that being respectful towards your elders and higher powers makes you a better humble.

  9/18/2009 7:28:31 AM
• Emily Garrity

  I think the Story was really cool =) It explains why the spider spins a web.... that i think is the main point of the story but the other point i think was what Jon B said... =) The story tho might have been my personal fav and the chariot one =) lol =)

  9/18/2009 10:14:35 AM