70 - The meter here is unique because of the presence of a spondaic line, a change in meter used to signify the transition into describing Minerva’s product.

71 - Pallas, palladis, f. Minerva

71 - The Cecropian Citadel was another name for the Acropolis of Athens. This section of the story is referring to the myth of the naming of Athens. Minerva (Athena) and Neptune (Poseidon) held a contest, offering gifts to the city to be named its patron. Minerva ultimately won.

71 - Mavors, mavortis, m. Mars

72 - “Bis sex” means twelve.

75 - Pelagus, pelagī, n. Sea

77 - Pignus, pignoris, n. pledge/mortgage

78/79 - Here there is a clear asyndeton, a lack of conjunctions used for dramatic effect

79 - Galea, galea, f. Helmet 

79 - The son of Aegeus is Theseus.

86 - Clārus, clāra, clārum - clear/bright

86 - Sigillum, sigillī, n. seal/statuette

87 - The Rhodopes is a mountain range in modern day southern Bulgaria. In myth, Rhodopes was the queen of Thrace and wife of Haemus, and was transformed into the mountain range following her husband’s actions. Minerva is portraying images of people punished for standing up to the gods in the four corners of her work.

87 - Haemus was the king of Thrace married to Rhodopes. In myth, he was vain and haughty, comparing himself and his wife to the gods. They were punished for their pride by being transformed into mountain ranges. Haemus was turned into the Balkan mountains.

88 - Gelidus, gelida, gelidum, icy/chilling

90 - “Mother” means queen in this context.

90 - The pygmy peoples were an indigenous peoples were indigenous to central Africa. The Romans associated them with a short stature and hatred for cranes.

92 - Grūs, gruis, f/m. crane/siege weapon

92 - Gerana was a pygmy mother whom Juno transformed into a crane because she disrespected the gods. Her crane form was so ugly, the pygmies became her enemy.

93 - Antigone was the daughter of Laomedon. She angered Juno when she claimed she was more pretty than Jupiter’s wife. In response, Juno turned her hair into snakes. Later, the gods would feel pity for her, and transform her into a stork: a predator of snakes.

97 - Crepitō, crepitāre, crepitāvī, crepitātum, to rattle/clatter

97 - Rōstrum, rōstrī, n. bird’s beak

98 - There is not much information known about the story of Cinyras. The most prominent Cinyras in mythology was a king of Cyprus who angered the gods after he engaged in an incestuous relationship with his daughter, Myrrha. She became pregnant, and he pursued her while she fled from him. The gods took mercy on her, transforming her into a myrrh tree. This story is distinct from the one Ovid is referencing, which has mostly been lost to time. Ovid describes a Cinyras whose daughters were transformed into the stones of temple steps.

98 - Orbus, orba, orbum - deprived of by death/lost to death

100 - Saxum, saxī, n. stone/rock

101 - Oleum, oleī, n. olive/olive oil

103 - The Maionian girl is Arachne.

103 - “Her tree” is referring to the olive tree, which is commonly associated with Minerva.

103 - Taurus, taurī, m. bull

103 - Europa was a Phoenician princess who Jupiter abducted by transforming into a bull, charming her until she got on his back, and swimming away with her to Crete. Once she was there, Jupiter cheated on his wife with her, and she bore three of his children. This is the first of many examples of the Gods acting in dishonorable ways Arachne will draw on in her piece.