Ovid and the Writing of Spiders
Minerva descends from Olympus to confront Arachne, a famous weaver who has insulted her authority. Disguising herself as (simulat) an old woman, she at first implores the young mortal to humble herself and ask for forgiveness. But Arachne refuses, doubling down on her initial challenge to the deity of wisdom and weaving and war: “let …
