Arachne

This week, we’re going to be looking at my favorite weaver from classical mythology, Arachne. Arachne was a mortal weaver, famous for her skill and innovation— she is credited with the invention of linen and nets. But Arachne was a proud woman, and boasted that her talent was greater than that of any other weaver, even Athena, goddess of wisdom and crafts. This— are we really surprised— got quickly back to Athena, who scoffed at the suggestion that she was second best at anything and quickly challenged Arachne to a weaving duel. This episode features a story from James Baldwin’s 1895 Old Greek Stories. Find a transcript of this episode here.