“The Eye of Athena”
By
Donald P. Allen (aka The Rope Doctor)
I both designed and wove this knot. This is just one of over 100 of my own original designs. This knot is a 24 Bights, 6 pointed star centered flat Turk’s-head. This design is an “evolved” version of an old Celtic/Scotish design that dates back about 1400 years. I have recently figured out how to expand upon the ancient design in such a way, to produce many new, never before seen designs. I weave my knots on pegboards that I also design and build. This particular designs requires about 170 pegs to weave. It is made with one single continuous piece of 1/2” Manila rope that measures about 335’ feet in length. Manila rope is cordage made from plant fiber. The fiber is derived from the ‘Abaca’ (Musa Textilis) which is a relative of the Plantain Banana. This is the same fiber used to make Manila envelopes and folders. This knot was designed to be used as a doormat on a covered porch but many of my mats end up as wall hangings. I named this design “The Eye of Athena” in honor of the Greek Goddess. More commonly known as the Goddess of wisdom, Athena is also the patroness Goddess of weaving.
The Legend
The fable of Arachne is a late Roman addition to Classical Greek mythology. Arachne's name simply means spider. Arachne was the daughter of a famous dyer in Tyrian purple in Hypaipa of Lydia. She became so conceited of her skill as a weaver that she began claiming that her skill was greater than that of Athena herself. Athena gave Arachne a chance to redeem herself by assuming the form of an old woman and warning Arachne not to offend the deities. Arachne scoffed and wished for a weaving contest with the Goddess, so she could prove her skill. Athena resumed her own shape and took up the challenge. Athena wove the scene of her victory over Poseidon that had inspired her patronage of Athens. According to the Latin narrative, Arachne's tapestry featured twenty-one episodes of the infidelity of the deities: Zeus being unfaithful with Leda, with Europa, with Danaё. Even Athena admitted that Arachne's work was flawless, but was outraged at Arachne's disrespectful choice of subjects that displayed the failings and transgressions of the deities. Finally losing her temper, Athena destroyed Arachne's tapestry and loom, striking it with her shuttle, Arachne realized her folly and hanged herself. In Ovid's telling, Athena took pity on Arachne who was changed into a spider. The fable suggests that the origin of weaving lay in imitation of spiders and that it was considered to have been perfected first in Asia Minor.
I see this piece as Arachne, in her new spider form, upon her web, reflected in “The Eye of Athena”. You would have to overlay all three of these images to see what I mean. I believe that this piece has come to me as a reminder to be humble about my skill as a weaver. To remind me that my skills are a gift from the universe that can be my undoing if I do not show gratitude by using them properly.
By
Donald P. Allen (aka The Rope Doctor)
I both designed and wove this knot. This is just one of over 100 of my own original designs. This knot is a 24 Bights, 6 pointed star centered flat Turk’s-head. This design is an “evolved” version of an old Celtic/Scotish design that dates back about 1400 years. I have recently figured out how to expand upon the ancient design in such a way, to produce many new, never before seen designs. I weave my knots on pegboards that I also design and build. This particular designs requires about 170 pegs to weave. It is made with one single continuous piece of 1/2” Manila rope that measures about 335’ feet in length. Manila rope is cordage made from plant fiber. The fiber is derived from the ‘Abaca’ (Musa Textilis) which is a relative of the Plantain Banana. This is the same fiber used to make Manila envelopes and folders. This knot was designed to be used as a doormat on a covered porch but many of my mats end up as wall hangings. I named this design “The Eye of Athena” in honor of the Greek Goddess. More commonly known as the Goddess of wisdom, Athena is also the patroness Goddess of weaving.
The Legend
The fable of Arachne is a late Roman addition to Classical Greek mythology. Arachne's name simply means spider. Arachne was the daughter of a famous dyer in Tyrian purple in Hypaipa of Lydia. She became so conceited of her skill as a weaver that she began claiming that her skill was greater than that of Athena herself. Athena gave Arachne a chance to redeem herself by assuming the form of an old woman and warning Arachne not to offend the deities. Arachne scoffed and wished for a weaving contest with the Goddess, so she could prove her skill. Athena resumed her own shape and took up the challenge. Athena wove the scene of her victory over Poseidon that had inspired her patronage of Athens. According to the Latin narrative, Arachne's tapestry featured twenty-one episodes of the infidelity of the deities: Zeus being unfaithful with Leda, with Europa, with Danaё. Even Athena admitted that Arachne's work was flawless, but was outraged at Arachne's disrespectful choice of subjects that displayed the failings and transgressions of the deities. Finally losing her temper, Athena destroyed Arachne's tapestry and loom, striking it with her shuttle, Arachne realized her folly and hanged herself. In Ovid's telling, Athena took pity on Arachne who was changed into a spider. The fable suggests that the origin of weaving lay in imitation of spiders and that it was considered to have been perfected first in Asia Minor.
I see this piece as Arachne, in her new spider form, upon her web, reflected in “The Eye of Athena”. You would have to overlay all three of these images to see what I mean. I believe that this piece has come to me as a reminder to be humble about my skill as a weaver. To remind me that my skills are a gift from the universe that can be my undoing if I do not show gratitude by using them properly.
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