One of the most important tales of the "classical" period concerns Arachne, who was not only a beautiful maiden but renowned for her talents as a weaver. Thus she thought herself worthy to challenge the Goddess of the domestic arts, Athene (who also damned the beauty Medusa, who became a female protection deity) to a weaving contest; this they did, and Arachne won, causing the furious Athene to change her into a spider so that she should spin for ever.