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Spiders in Heathen Mythology

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    #1

    Spiders in Heathen Mythology

    Is there any connection? Are any Gods/Godesses specifically identified with the spider? Did the spider play any part in the Heathen worldview?

    Thanks
    "Wealth is as swift | as a winking eye
    Of friends the falsest it is."

    Havamal, 74

    "The wolf that lies idle | shall win little meat,
    Or the sleeping man success."

    Havamal, 58
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    #2
    Re: Spiders in Heathen Mythology

    In greek myth Aracne was a spinner who challenged Athena and was cursed by her and forced to forever spin intricate designs by becoming the first spider.
    this has more info on global spider myths
    Circe

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      #3
      Re: Spiders in Heathen Mythology

      Nothing in lore I can think of tied to spiders, however the personal UPG of a couple of people I've interacted with who have altars to Loki will put little puzzles and spider-related things on them sometimes.
      Great Grandmother's Kitchen

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        #4
        Re: Spiders in Heathen Mythology

        Originally posted by Corvus View Post
        In greek myth Aracne was a spinner who challenged Athena and was cursed by her and forced to forever spin intricate designs by becoming the first spider.
        this has more info on global spider myths

        One of the high profile scholars (Dumezil, DeVries?) hypothesized that Loki was a spider.

        There isn't a lot of spider lore since there aren't really any dangerous spiders in northern Europe, so they didn't have a large effect on people's lives.

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          #5
          Re: Spiders in Heathen Mythology

          Originally posted by Wednesday View Post
          One of the high profile scholars (Dumezil, DeVries?) hypothesized that Loki was a spider.

          There isn't a lot of spider lore since there aren't really any dangerous spiders in northern Europe, so they didn't have a large effect on people's lives.
          there is spider lore but its mostly not european. Theres lots of african lore about spiders
          Circe

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            #6
            Re: Spiders in Heathen Mythology

            Originally posted by Wednesday View Post
            One of the high profile scholars (Dumezil, DeVries?) hypothesized that Loki was a spider.
            There's an Anne B. Rooth who hypothesized that Loki was a spider, but apparently she's been thoroughly debunked by now.

            Still, the association has stuck among the Lokeans I've talked to online.

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              #7
              Re: Spiders in Heathen Mythology

              Originally posted by Lokabrenna View Post
              There's an Anne B. Rooth who hypothesized that Loki was a spider, but apparently she's been thoroughly debunked by now.

              Still, the association has stuck among the Lokeans I've talked to online.
              Interesting...I had wondered where that started. Always interesting to watch mythos evolve to meet the needs of the people.
              Great Grandmother's Kitchen

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                #8
                Re: Spiders in Heathen Mythology

                Originally posted by Corvus View Post
                there is spider lore but its mostly not european. Theres lots of african lore about spiders
                While an accurate point, it may be irrelevant. This thread seems to be focused primarily on Heathenism. That would largely restrict the answers to Europe (and not all of that) unless ConnollyCelt wants to include lore from other regions.
                life itself was a lightsaber in his hands; even in the face of treachery and death and hopes gone cold, he burned like a candle in the darkness. Like a star shining in the black eternity of space.

                Yoda: Dark Rendezvous

                "But those men who know anything at all about the Light also know that there is a fierceness to its power, like the bare sword of the law, or the white burning of the sun." Suddenly his voice sounded to Will very strong, and very Welsh. "At the very heart, that is. Other things, like humanity, and mercy, and charity, that most good men hold more precious than all else, they do not come first for the Light. Oh, sometimes they are there; often, indeed. But in the very long run the concern of you people is with the absolute good, ahead of all else..."

                John Rowlands, The Grey King by Susan Cooper

                "You come from the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve", said Aslan. "And that is both honour enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth; be content."

                Aslan, Prince Caspian by CS Lewis


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                  #9
                  Re: Spiders in Heathen Mythology

                  How about the Spider Wight in the Anglo-Saxon Charms?
                  www.thewolfenhowlepress.com


                  Phantom Turnips never die.... they just get stewed occasionally....

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                    #10
                    Re: Spiders in Heathen Mythology

                    Originally posted by Tylluan Penry View Post
                    How about the Spider Wight in the Anglo-Saxon Charms?
                    Tylluan. This is something I'm completely unfamiliar with. Do you cover it in your recent book?
                    Great Grandmother's Kitchen

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                      #11
                      Re: Spiders in Heathen Mythology

                      Originally posted by Dez View Post
                      Tylluan. This is something I'm completely unfamiliar with. Do you cover it in your recent book?
                      It does turn up in my psychic self defence book, but will also be in the AngloSaxon one... I'll dig up my notes and put a few pointers here about it tomorrow!
                      www.thewolfenhowlepress.com


                      Phantom Turnips never die.... they just get stewed occasionally....

                      Comment

                        #12
                        www.thewolfenhowlepress.com


                        Phantom Turnips never die.... they just get stewed occasionally....

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Re: Spiders in Heathen Mythology

                          Originally posted by Corvus View Post
                          In greek myth Aracne was a spinner who challenged Athena and was cursed by her and forced to forever spin intricate designs by becoming the first spider.
                          this has more info on global spider myths
                          Oh em gee, I totally remember that episode of "Hercules."

                          ...ahem. Sorry.

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Re: Spiders in Heathen Mythology

                            Thanks for that, Tylluan! I'm finding myself mre and more interested in Anglo-Saxon lore, but I'm not is place to research it properly myself. I'm finding the dwarf-spider ties interesting, as are the beings that are called on.
                            Great Grandmother's Kitchen

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                              #15
                              Re: Spiders in Heathen Mythology

                              If you can get hold of a copy of something like Pollington's Leechcraft I think you would love it Dez!
                              www.thewolfenhowlepress.com


                              Phantom Turnips never die.... they just get stewed occasionally....

                              Comment

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