The spider is an ancient symbol found globally that has represented both positive and negative traits across cultures throughout history. In Greek mythology, the first spider was born from the pride of a woman named Arachne, who was transformed into a spider by the goddess Athena as punishment for her hubris. Spiders are seen as both creators and destroyers in many cultures, such as the goddess Neith in Egyptian mythology who was associated with weaving destiny. Indigenous cultures like the Hopi and Navajo also featured spider symbols representing creation. Contrary to their fearful appearances, spiders are often portrayed as good omens and bringers of luck in traditions like ancient China.

1. 17 OCTOBER, 2014 - 01:41 LIZLEAFLOOR
The symbolic spider that wove its way
through history
(Read the article on one page)
The spider is an ancient and powerful symbol found
round the globe, and have always elicited a wide
range of emotions in people:fear, disgust, panic, and
sometimes curiosity and appreciation. This broad
spectrumof impressions has influenced origin myths,

2. legends, art, literature, music, architecture, and
technology throughouthistory.
Certainly an enigmatic symbol, the spider has
different meanings and purposesaccording to
different cultures. Arachnids and their webs embody
many traits and interpretations, including
resourcefulness, creation and destruction,cunning,
deception,intrigue, the feminine, wisdom, fortune,
patience, and death.
Arachne the Weaver
In ancient Greek legend, the world’s first spider was
born from the pride of a woman.
The mortal Arachne was gifted in the art of weaving
fine cloth and tapestries, and studied under the
goddess Athena, herself a master at weaving and
pottery. Arachne’s work was so beautiful, and her
talent so great, that word of her weaving spread far
and wide. Eventually, pride and arrogance lead
Arachne to boast that her work was even betterthan
Athena’s. In a contest to determine who was the
betterartist – the mortal or the goddess - Arachne
wove a tapestry depicting the gods in a bad light,
detailing their debaucheryand foolishness. The
goddess Athenawas furious and, in a rage, destroyed
Arachne’s work.
Arachne, horrified and ashamed to realize where her
hubris had taken her, hanged herself. Athena, feeling
that the mortal had learned the error of challenging

3. the gods, turned the hanging rope into web, and
Arachne into a spider, so she might weave beautiful
creations for all time. This is the origin of the
word arachnid, a term we use for spiders to this day.
Being crafty and industrious weavers of webs is only
one trait of spiders which been used symbolically
across the ages. Spiders and webs have been featured
in traditions around the world, and have meant many
things to many cultures.

4. Arachne returned to the living as a spider
(via GreekMythology)
Creator and Destroyer
In many culturesspiders stand as the creators of our
universe and world, and also serve as agents of
destruction.
For example, in ancient India, it is written that a large
spider wove the web that is our universe. She sits at
the centre of the web, controllingthings via the
strings. In legend it is said she will one day devour
the web/universe, and spin anotherin its place.
Egyptian mythology tells of the goddess Neith - a
spinner and weaver of destiny - and associates her
with the spider. She is often depicted with a weaving
shuttlein her hand, or a bow and arrows,
demonstratingher huntingabilities.

5. Egyptian Goddess of Weaving (via HeartsPM)
The spider is a trickster god in West African stories,
personifying the creation deity Anansi.Associated
with storytellingand wisdom, the spider causes
mischief to get the upper hand in dealings with
others. The retellingof these “spider tales” imparts
moral lessons through the generations.
Rock art and bark paintings in Australia reveal that
the indigenous culturescreated spider symbols.
Spiders in their webs are linked with a sacred rock

6. and ceremony for the Rembarrnga peoplein central
Arnhem Land. Several regional clans use spider
totems in rituals.
North American indigenous cultureshave often
portrayed spiders as creators, helpers, and wisdom
keepers. In Hopi creation myth, SpiderWoman is
goddess of the earth. She, together with othergods,
formed the first man and woman out of clay. The
Lakota people’slore includes a trickster spider, and
the Navajo connect SpiderGrandmotherand the
weaving of webs with the creation of the world.
Good Fortune
Spiders, contrary to their sometimes fearsome or
creepy physical appearances, are not always
portrayed as dangerous creatures or destructive
emblems. In many traditions, the spider is a good
omen and a helpful savior.
Ancient Chinese folk culturecelebratesspiders. They
are thought to bring happiness in the morning, and
wealth in the evening. Spiders are lucky creatures,
and dubbed “happyinsects”. The image of the spider
features widely in art and literaturein China, and
spider jewelry or charms are worn to bring good luck.
Patti Wigington writes in About Religion, “ In
several cultures,spidersare creditedwith savingthe
lives of great leaders.In the Torah, there is a story of
David, who would later become King of Israel, being
pursuedby soldierssent by King Saul. David hidin a

7. cave, and a spider crawled in and builta hugeweb
across the entrance. When the soldierssaw the cave,
they didn’t botherto search it – after all, no one
could be hidinginsideit if the spiderweb was
undisturbed. A parallelstory appearsin the life of the
prophetMohammed,who hid in a cave when fleeing
his enemies.A giant tree sproutedin front of the
cave, and a spider builta web between the cave and
the tree, with similarresults.”