Spiders are remarkable
creatures that have been around since the dawn of time. Their silk, stronger than titanium alloy, is able to flex without
breaking. 35,000 different species of spiders create silk, but not all are web
weavers. Some spin strands of silk and balloon travel.
Ballooning spiders climb as
high as they can on an object, stand on raised legs with their abdomen
pointing upwards and then release several silk threads from their spinnerets into the air. Because each strand is polarised, these strands repel one another to form a
triangular shaped parachute which carries them away on updrafts of winds even
in the slightest of breezes.
In my research, to
find and bring to attention the purpose of mythology, I have discovered spiders
figure prominently in worldwide Mythology, Legends and Historical events. Timeless
myths and legends are a magic mirror through which the hopes and fears of
people from the earliest time may be viewed. Yet, eyes often cloud when I
mention spiders and, "Can't stand spiders," permeates the air. This reaction
may stem from the Christian belief that spiders represent human fragility and
the enticement of evil. But in many cultures, spiders are viewed as
heroes. According to German folklore, Spider, recognizing the birth of Christ
as glorious, spun silver and gold webs on trees. Throughout Africa,
Spider is either a trickster or a great god. Japanese believe Spider Woman
ensnares careless travellers, the Pueblo
Nation of America that Spider Woman created the universe. The Greeks and Norse
thought of spiders as weavers of peoples' fates.
From myths gleaned
from the past, a number so old they were recounted before the advent of the
written word, I have selected spider stories that show how spiders influenced
mankind. The work, Lightweight Heroes, to be published this year, retells of
ancient stories.
Here's a taste to
whet the appetite.
The Story Bringer
African
Story Retold
Long before
writing was invented story telling became a lost art. Displeased with mankind,
Nyame, the Sky God, took away the stories and locked them a box. Anansi,
saddened by what he saw turned to his wife.
"Look, Aso,
look at the people's faces. They work all day and are lost without their
stories to tell at night."
"So, so
sad," Aso said. "Many have tried to persuade Nyame to give them back,
but he just laughs in their faces."
"People want
to make sense of their world. They need their stories, Aso. I'll go and ask father the free
them."
"But… "
Anansi looked to
the heavens. "Yes. I know it was he who turned me into a spider and
banished me to Earth, but I have to do this."
Straight away he
climbed to the highest point in the tree he called home, teased out a sticky
thread and began to build a staircase to heaven. Higher and higher he inched to
his former home in the sky. Finally he stood before his father.
A frown creasing
his brow, Nyame looked down on his son. "I did not summon you. Why are you
here?"
"I came to
ask for the people's stories."
"What! You
want the stories?"
His derisive
laughter ringing throughout the heavens, the wind blew harder, feathery clouds
scudded across the sky faster and the sun hid in thunderheads. "Many have
tried to get them back but have failed. Why should I unlock the stories for
you?"
"Without
their story telling the people on Earth are sad. They work hard all day, have
nothing to share at night and have no way of making sense of their world."
"And that is
how they will stay."
"What will it take, Father, for you to
give back the stories?"
An expression of
surprise flittered across Nyame's face. "You, you little thing. You could
not pay the price."
"I may be
small, but I am willing to do whatever it is you wish to win back the stories
for the people."
"Whatever I
wish?" A malevolent chuckle burst from Nyame's lips before he said,
"you'll have to bring me four rare fierce animals."
No fear showing,
Anansi looked his father in the eyes, "And they are?"
"A snake that
swallows animals whole. A leopard with sharp teeth like spears. A hornet that
stings people and Mmoatia, the invisible fairy. Bring all of these to me and
I'll give you the stories."
"Then it
shall be so."
His father's face
broke into a broad smile and amidst raucous laughter that reverberated through
heaven and Earth Anansi began to climb down wondering how he was to capture the
creatures Nyame desired.
"Well?"
Aso asked when he reached his web.
"Little
change in father's mind, but he did set me a challenge."
His story told, he
looked to Aso. "How I am going to do these things I cannot think."
Aso stroked one
foreleg along the other while she thought. "The snake first. Take a good
long thick branch and some strong vines to the river where the snake
lives," then she whispered in Anansi's ear in case Nyame was listening.
Using magic powers
retained when his father changed him into a spider Anansi grew to gigantic
proportions. Armed with a stout branch he made his way to the river mumbling,
"This one's longer than he is. No. It's not. Yes, it is. No, its
not."
"Yoh there,
Anansi," snake called as he emerged from the water. "What's all the
mumbling?"
"Aso and I
are arguing about how long you are."
Snake wound its
way closer.
Anansi held out
the branch. "She says you are longer than this. I think not."
"I'm a huge
snake, much longer than that stick you hold. Here, put it next to me. I'll
straighten out and you measure."
Anansi lay the
branch on the ground and snake glided along its length.
"You've still
got kinks," Anansi called. "I'll tie you along the branch and then
we'll have a true measure."
"Right,"
snake said.
In a flash Anansi
secured him with to the branch with vines and took him to heaven.
His face showing
no emotion, "Leopard, hornet, the fairy. Where are they?" Nyame said
as he looked along the length of the snake.
No further words
forthcoming, Anansi rappelled back to Aso.
"Well,"
she again asked on his return.
"Father was
not amused, he just said, leopard, hornets, the fairy. Where are they? How on
earth do I capture a leopard?"
Aso thought for a
while. "Go dig a big hole." She leaned in and whispered the rest of
her plan in his ear.
Straight away,
Anansi assumed a super size, dug then covered a deep hole with branches before
returning home. Next morning a leopard lay in the pit.
"Here you
must be tired from trying to get out," Anansi called as he lowered himself
down. "Let me help you."
As soon as the
leopard was close enough, he tied it to long sticks with his sticky thread and
whisked him to heaven.
A stone-faced
Nyame looked at the leopard and then to his son. "Two," was all that
he said.
"I'll
return," Anansi called from over his shoulder and slid down to Earth.
"The hornets
and the invisible fairy, Aso, how do I capture them?" and listened
intently to her plan.
Armed with a gourd
full of water Anansi went to a tree where hornets buzzed around the hive
entrance. He watched for a while before pouring water over the hive then he cut a leaf from a
banana tree, held it over his head and poured the rest of the water over
himself.
"Hey
hornets," he called. "It is raining. Your hive is wet. Come shelter
in my dry gourd."
The hornets busily
shaking water from their wings abandoned the hive and flew into the gourd. As
quick as a flash Anansi spun a web to seal the opening. The hornets captured,
he looked to the West where he knew one of the Mmoatia who cared about people
dwelt. The final task to complete he climbed to the top of the hornet's tree,
launched and silken thread tracking behind, floated on the wind until he
reached the Mmoatia tree.
"Mmoatia,"
he called.
"Who
calls?"
"Anansi, son
of Nyame."
Suddenly a small
black, red and white creature less than thirty centimetre tall, its feet
pointing backwards appeared. "What do you want?"
"Help. Help
me get back the people's stories from my father."
"All who have
tried have failed."
"Together we
can succeed."
The fairy just
stared, continued staring at Anansi until he added, "Father set me a
challenge. He agreed to give the people back their stories if I complete four
tasks. Three have been completed."
"And the last
one is?"
"Bring him an
invisible fairy."
"What!"
The Mmoatia disappeared, reappeared in the highest branch of the tree and
called, "You want me to…" as she slowly descended to stand in front
of Anansi.
"Why
me?"
"You care
about the people. We could…"
The plan
explained, the fairy blanked out for what seemed to Anansi, a life time before
reappearing.
"Right then," she said. "Let's do it for the
people"
Hornet nest held
tightly, Anansi and the invisible fairy climbed to heaven.
The smile on
Nyame's face disappeared when his son greeted him.
"The tasks
are complete, father, I've brought you the hornets nest and the Mmoatia.
Release the stories."
"I see no
fairy."
No sooner had the
words left Nyame's mouth than he cried, "Owww! Ouch!
"Do you feel
the Mmoatia, father?"
"The pain's
nothing other than my bones creaking."
Air suddenly
whooshed from his throat and he doubled over."
"You feel
Mmoatia's presence now, father?"
"Yes,
yes," he croaked.
"Then release
the stories."
The lock, corroded
by time, creaked open. Out spurted thousands of ancient stories. For a while
they floated on the air before raining down on Earth.
Anansi and Mmoatia
looked down on the village. Smiles on every face, the people gathered before
Hene Mojo, the oldest and wisest of all the villagers. His mind filled with
long forgotten and new stories, his gaze touched every face before he perched
on the ancient stump where storytellers of the past had sat.
His eyes lingered
on the hushed gathering before he said, "Long before writing was invented
all of our stories were locked away by Nyame the Sky God."
Gasps filled the
air.
"Let me tell
you how Anansi the Spider and a Mmoatia made him give us back our stories.
Maureen Green
