Arachne has the audacity to boast that she is the greatest weaver in the world, greater even than the goddess Minerva. The goddess appears in disguise and requests that Arachne retracts her boast. Arachne refuses, and is challenged to a duel. Arachne and Minerva set to work on producing the most beautiful tapestries, Minerva praising the accomplishments of the gods while Arachne depicts their transgressions. Minerva, threatened by Arachne?s work, tears Arachne?s tapestry from the loom. Arachne attempts to escape from this injustice by hanging herself, but Minerva throws a poisoned leaf at her forehead. As Arachne?s head and body shrivel, her eight fingers extend into spindly legs condemned forever to weave a web.

Commissioned by Fiona Cross and Hugh Webb with funds provided by Southern Arts.