Arachnae and Acteon

In the story of Actaeon and Arachnae both illustrate goddesses taking extreme measures to punish humans who disrespected or threatened their power. In Ovid's Metamorphoses humans undergo metamorphosis as a form of punishment from goddesses who feel embarrassed. In this paper I will prove that two different goddesses punished humans out of embarrassment, and not any actual wrongdoing.

In the story of Diana and Actaeon, the goddess punishes the mortal hunter by turning him into a stag. Actaeon a hunter is transformed after he finds Diana bathing in "a waterfall inside the mountain, noisy but hidden" (99). One would never think that goddesses would bathe in waterfalls, where they could be in contact with humans. Although her position made it easier for someone to discover her she never expected to be seen:" she blushed like a dawn cloud.." when she not only was discovered by a man but also while she was naked. Acteaon did not try to hurt her nor does anything of that sort but Diana felt threatened by his presence. Diana could have easily disappeared or just told him to go away, but due to her embarrassment and rage she punished Actaeon by turning him into a stag. She said "Now, if you can, tell how you saw me naked" (100). Not only was he a stag but he still had his human emotions:" Human tears shone on his stag's face/from grief of mind that was still human."(100). Acteaon later hunted downby his own pack, now the hunter became the hunted. Diana is not a part of the human world, and she does not have to deal with their imperfections and curious ways. Diana's

impatience and rage gave Acteaon no time to apologize or explain himself. She does not even consider that he did not seek her out but discovered her by accident.

In the story of Arachnae, the goddess Minerva ends Arachnae's human life by turning her into a spider after Minerva is embarrassed and defeated. Arachnae is a young woman who is known for her weaving abilities, which she inherited from Minerva. She is proud of her ability but denies it was a gift from Minerva. Minerva