Tarantula Cloth

The Tarantula Cloth is the Cloth worn by the Saint Arachne in Saint Seiya. It is of the second class of the cloths that Athena's Saints wield, the Silver Cloths.

Mythology
The Tarantula Cloth represents the former constellation Aranea, the Spider Constellation.

The Aranea constellation likely has a tie to the myth of Arachne (appropriately, the name of the Saint who wielded this Cloth). In Greek mythology, Arachne was a girl from Tyre, who was highly skilled at weaving. However, when people were so impressed they wondered if Athena herself had trained her (Athena is credited with inventing, and being a master of, weaving) Arachne becomes furious and insists Athena compete with her to see who truly is the better weaver. At first, hearing this challenge, Athena tries to pardon Arachne, sure the girl will humble herself with a second chance; the goddess disguises herself as an old woman and visits Arachne, advising the girl to ask Athena for forgiveness, as Athena may show her mercy. Arachne is angered by the words and insults the old woman, repeating her challenge to the goddess. At these words, Athena reveals herself and the two begin a weaving competition.

The two weave magnificent tapestries, Athena's shimmering with color and depicting the glory of the gods and her victory over Poseidon for control of Athens. Although Arachne's is equal in splendor, her subject is quite different; she depicts the gods exploiting humans and shows them in their worst light, assaulting young women and killing all who displease them. The two finish at the same moment and, although the tapestries are judged as equally perfect, Athena takes one look at Arachne's and flies into a rage. She rips the tapestry apart and beats Arachne with a distaff until the humiliated girl races into the forest. Athena follows, coming upon Arachne after the girl has hung herself from a tree out of shame. Feeling sorry for her, Athena restores Arachne to life and transforms the girl into the first spider, allowing her to keep weaving beautiful, shimmering webs.

Previous War
Tarantula Cloth seems to have no living user in The Lost Canvas,but has only rarely been seen since.

Special Abilities
The Tarantula Cloth, while having all of the strength and endurance of a Silver Cloth, has no special traits that make it stand out as a cloth.

Techniques

 * Tarantula Net: Arachne takes a position simulating a spider, casting a web on his enemy which can absorb his enemy's Cosmo, weakening them. Arachne then uses that energy against the opponent, eventually killing them.