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To find the answer to that question, you need look no farther than the scientific name for spiders, arachnids. According to the sage and voluminous Greek Mythology Link, Arachne was a famous, haughty weaver who challenged the goddess Athena to a competition of skill. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts (among other things) became duly ticked off, and accepted. In what can only be described as a catfight of epic proportions, Athena wove a picture of prideful humans being punished by mighty gods, while Arachne wove the mythological equivalent of a Jackie Collins novel, showing the gods
engaging in all manner of lascivious affairs and wanton activities. Here's the problem -- Arachne's tapestry was obviously better, so Athena destroyed it. Arachne, completely anguished, tried to hang herself, but Athena turned her into a spider (the weaver, get it?) instead.
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