Athena (Minerva) was the goddess of warfare and wisdom. At birth, she sprang full-grown and dressed in armor from the forehead of Zeus (Jupiter).

Athena was very skilled in spinning and weaving. A mortal named Arachne once challenged Athena to a weaving contest. Many various myths disagree who won, but the outcome is the same. Athena turned Arachne into a spider so she could spend the rest of her life spinning.

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