Notes

Arachne
In the book “Greek Myths” by Olivia Coolidge the story “Arachne” starts on page 22.
The story of Arachne is about a young spinstress who thought her talent surpassed the skills of the goddess Athene. She began thinking this when rumors spread, from those who watched her spin, that she was taught from the powerful goddess herself. One-day Athene disguised herself as an old woman and heard this which led to her being challenged by Arachne to a spinning competition. Athene was much quicker and calm while making her loom than the boastful mortal and watched as Arachne finished her loom. Athene’s loom looked like a picture of the contest between her and Poseidon over the city of Athens and the fates of mortals who thought they could surpass the gods as a warning to Arachne of the mighty goddess’s power. Arachne made a loom showing what the gods had done to trick and take advantage of mortals. This deeply offended Athene and as punishment she turned the girl into a spider so that she could spin the rest of her short life. All spiders are descendants from Arachne and ever since that day whenever someone would look at a spider they would be reminded of their contest and the Arachne’s punishment.
The moral of this story is that you shouldn’t think too high of yourself because there is always someone better than you. Also boasting and being conceited will find a way to come back and cause problems for you.

Athene’s City
In the book Greek Myths by Olivia Coolidge the story “Athene’s City” starts on page .

The moral of this story is that

Baucis and Philemon
In the book Greek Myths by Olivia Coolidge the story “Baucis and Philemon” starts on page 129.
Baucis and Philemon were a very poor yet kind couple that lived in a small piece of land with their animals. The two gods Zeus and Hermes were asking people for food and shelter while in their human form when they found the home of the old couple. Even though they didn’t have much to spare Baucis and Philemon provided them with fruit, wine, eggs, and much else. Philemon realized that him and his wife were in the presence of two immortals when he came to pour them more wine just to realize the bowl was full again. Zeus and Hermes were friendly unlike how the elderly couple expected and to show their appreciation for their kind hospitality they offered them any reward they would want. The old man and woman wished to turn their home into a temple to worship the gods and to pass away in the same hour. Baucis and Philemon lived out their lives as priest and priestess of the temple until they passed away of old age. On their death place lay two trees growing outward toward each other.
The lesson in this story is that kindness and selflessness is rewarded in many ways by the world.