My Sister Arachne Saves Jesus

My sister Arachne was born the precocious offspring of our mother Imon of Colophon. Though we were immortalized the great Spanish painter Diego Velázquez as "The Spinners," some still say that she was not the figment of Ovid's wine that was tainted by the snail.

We were born to Tyrian weavers in Lydia (Izmir, Turkey) in 1 BCE. Arachne was named for our mother's great grandmother who had contest with Athene. Our mother Imon had inherited from Hercules the family secret of the "purple blood" which was only fitting for gods, kings and other royal blood. She was the favored waver of Mark Anthony. The dye was made from rotting sea snails and produced a tremendous fowl stench. When was very young her chores included "milking" the snails as not to waste any of the precious "blood," that stained her belly red. This was the mark of her destiny for the Moirai had great plans for her, but she rebelled along the way.

Then is the dark of night she stole away on the breastplate of a young "contubernium." Then a great celestial body appeared "from the east" and all republicans set to Judea to find the the child born king of the Jews. The magi had told Herod there was to be a Messiah born in Bethlehem, the birth place of King David. And in his fear oth the prophecy, her order the death ao all male children under two.

After the long journey Arachne was very weary and could not find a place to rest. For "In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered." (Luke 2: 1-3) Arachne found a stable and bean to weave her hammock over a manger, knowing that would attract insects for her dinner. She spun some small strands and fell swiftly to sleep.

"Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child." (Luke 2:4-7) The was no room at the in as Mary went into trivial, so Mary and Joseph rested in the Stable.

As the contractions become intense, Mary began to push and scream. For the virgin birth was painful; at least to some it seems. This awakened scared Arachne, who began rapidly to weave; she wove intense and thickly as to block out out the noise. The baby Jesus came for and was quiet as a mouse. Mary laid him in the manage; there was no room in the house. Arachne kept a weaving and a thick blanket she made, it was spun over the manger warming where the baby Jesus laid.

Then came the Roman soldiers, looking for the child. They searched among the stables and all the creature wild. They came upon Arachne and her web so tightly woven. It hid the baby Jesus among the creatures cloven. The soldiers saw the blood stain upon Arachne's underside, and knowing of the poison they ran off to hide.

There is a family legend I print for all to see. The baby infant Jesuse, save for all the world you see, by the simple spider of the family name "Zbeide."