in fabulous history, a young maid of Lydia, said to have been the inventress of spinning. She is fabled to have been so skilful in this art, as to challenge Minerva at it; who tore her work, and struck her; which diligence driving her to despair, she hanged herself. Pallas, from compassion, brought her to life, and transformed her into a spider, which still employs itself in spinning.