Spiders? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Bêthberry · 10-22-2005, 11:09 AM

There are spider legends and stories in many, many mythologies, Celebuial, so I don't think anyone can say that other authors copied Tolkien. If you do a google search for spiders in mythology, you will find many links, but here are some of the best known stories.

Anansi, the trickster god in African legend

Some Japanese spider myths

The story of Arachne in Ovid (Greek)

Some North American spider/weaving stories of creation

Not all of these mythic stories involve evil per se, but the link between weaving and creation is clear. Tolkien seems to have suggested that the spider goddess created an early form of the world before Eru and he decided to represent this as evil and disgusting. And the Downs is often overrun with 'search spiders' of course!

Have fun googling on the modern web!

10-22-2005, 11:09 AM	#10
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,007	There are spider legends and stories in many, many mythologies, Celebuial, so I don't think anyone can say that other authors copied Tolkien. If you do a google search for spiders in mythology, you will find many links, but here are some of the best known stories. Anansi, the trickster god in African legend Some Japanese spider myths The story of Arachne in Ovid (Greek) Some North American spider/weaving stories of creation Not all of these mythic stories involve evil per se, but the link between weaving and creation is clear. Tolkien seems to have suggested that the spider goddess created an early form of the world before Eru and he decided to represent this as evil and disgusting. And the Downs is often overrun with 'search spiders' of course! Have fun googling on the modern web! __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away. Last edited by Bêthberry; 10-22-2005 at 11:13 AM.