In Ovid's "Metamorphoses", the talented mortal weaver known as Arachne challenged Athena, god of wisdom and crafts, to a weaving contest. When the contest had finished, and Athena could not find a single flaw in Arachne's tapestry, her fury caused her to beat Arachne with a shuttle from the nearby loom. Soon after, Arachne hung herself in shame, and was cursed by Athena to live as the first spider. This served as a cautionary tale not to equate or compare oneself with the gods.
