Who was the mythological woman that challenged Athena to a weaving contest and was later transformed into a spider?

The mythological figure who challenged Athena to a weaving contest and was ultimately transformed into a spider is Arachne. In this story from Greek mythology, Arachne was an exceptionally skilled mortal weaver who became arrogant and boasted that her skills surpassed even those of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and craft. This challenge led to a weaving contest between the two. When Arachne's work proved to be flawless and depicted disrespectful scenes of the gods, Athena, enraged by her arrogance and the content of her tapestry, punished her by turning her into a spider. This transformation symbolizes the idea of continuous weaving, as spiders weave webs. The story reflects themes of hubris, respect for the gods, and the consequences of prideful behavior.