Goddess of the Week: Athena, goddess of crafts

When it comes to multitasking, few goddesses excel like the Greek goddess Athena.  Not only was she the goddess of wisdom, the goddess of war, and the patroness of Athens, but she was also the goddess of crafts.  Her specialty was weaving, and it was said that no one worked a loom as well as Athena.  Of course, humans being what they are, that was an invitation to trouble, at least it was for Arachne.

Arachne also specialized in weaving.  In fact, she was so good that she boasted that not even Athena could match her skill.  (Ok, now I know I've said this before, but you really don't want to compare yourself to a god or goddess.  You might as well step into a lion's cage because things are going to turn ugly super fast.  Modesty, people!  Show some modesty!)  Now, Arachne was actually lucky.  Athena could have smote her down then and there, but she decided to give the young woman the benefit of the doubt.  She transfigured herself into a withered crone and went to see Arachne for herself.  

"Sure.  I get it.  You're good," said Athena looking at samples of the young woman's work.  "But, you wouldn't really dare compare yourself to the great goddess Athena, would you?"

"I'm so totally as good as Athena," said the little snot.  "I am so good, that if there were an Olympics of weaving, I would beat Athena."

"Oh!  You are so on!" said Athena removing her disguise and revealing her true self.

The goddess and the young woman sat down at their respective looms and got to work.  Athena wove a stunning and suggestive tapestry depicting the fall of humans from hubris.  Had Arachne been paying attention, she might not have designed her tapestry to show the gods and goddesses on top of Mt. Olympus performing embarrassing acts.   

Still, when the competition was over, even Athena had to admit that the quality of Arachne's work was as fine as her own.  But there was no getting around that truth.  So Athena turned Arachne into a spider who still weaves today.  

On a more contemporary note, I think if Martha Stewart had heeded the story of Arachne she would have avoided that embarrassing jail time.  (Let this be a lesson to you, Rachel Ray!)

Channel this goddess: When overwhelmed with the desire to knit/sew/crochet/scrapbook/decoupage or turn old sweaters into festive felted dolls!  But be warned: think twice before you start selling things on Etsy.