Spider People: Difference between revisions

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A [[Our Centaurs Are Different|centaur-esque]] creature that has the upper body of a human and the lower body of a [[Giant Spider|spider]], sometimes referred to as [[Dungeons & Dragons|Driders]]. Most of the time they are seen as females since female spiders are bigger and more dangerous than males (also serves as a form of [[Fetish Fuel]]). They're usually shown as [[Chaotic Evil|evil]] [[Spiders Are Scary|beings]] but occasionally fall into the [[Cute Monster Girl]] category.

Not to be confused with [[Spider-Man]] or [[Spider-Woman]]. See also the [[Youkai]] Tsuchigumo and Jurogumo, which are spiders that can turn into people and often have mix-and-match shapes similar to this trope. Naturally, tend to have an [[Arachnid Appearance and Attire]].

== [[Mythology]] ==

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* [[Classical Mythology|In Greco-Roman mythology]], there was a mortal weaver named Arachne. Arachne boasted of how her skills in making beautiful tapestries were better than those of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and crafts. Minerva grew so tired of her boasting that she turned Arachne into a spider woman, proving that Spider People are indeed [[Older Than Feudalism]].

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** She was actually just [[Baleful Polymorph|turned into an ordinary spider]], but modern adaptations will usually have her turned into either this or a [[Giant Spider]].

== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

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* Spidrens from [[Tamora Pierce]]'s [[Tortall Universe]], which have a spider's body and a human head.

== [[Live Action TV]] ==

== [[Live-Action TV]] ==

* A non-human example: The aliens in the new [[TNT]] series ''[[Falling Skies]]'' have spider-like bodies, but their heads and forearms are more like the creatures from ''[[Alien]]''.

* The Captain Proton holodeck episode from Star Trek Voyager featured Janeway as Aracnia, Queen of the Spider People. Presumably had we seen the spider people, this trope would have been involved.

* There is the Queen of the Racnoss from the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode "[[Doctor Who/Recap/2006 CS the Runaway Bride|The Runaway Bride]]", she even had a web motif going on for her spaceship. Full spider below but human upper torso and semi-human head (the actress wore a prosthesis with a big frill on it).

* The ''[[Hercules: The Legendary Journeys]]'' episode "Web of Desire" showed a different take on the Arachne myth. She was jealous of her daughter's beauty and drowned her in the ocean. Zeus cursed her into a Spider Person form and banished her on an deserted island.

== [[Oral Tradition]], [[Folklore]], Myths and Legends ==

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* [[Classical Mythology|In Greco-Roman mythology]], there was a mortal weaver named Arachne. Arachne boasted of how her skills in making beautiful tapestries were better than those of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and crafts. Minerva grew so tired of her boasting that she turned Arachne into a spider woman, proving that Spider People are indeed [[Older Than Feudalism]].

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** She was actually just [[Baleful Polymorph|turned into an ordinary spider]], but modern adaptations will usually have her turned into either this or a [[Giant Spider]].

== [[Tabletop Games]] ==

* ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' got Driders, who are transformed drow (centauroid - mostly intact upper half of a Drow on top of a spider abdomen with legs). Lolth "the Spider Queen" uses a spider with Drow head as one of her avatar forms.

** [[Forgotten Realms]] has Chitines, the magical hybrid of spiders and humanoids with four long spindly arms, somewhat rounded torso, spidery faceted eyes, mandibles and web spinneret over bellybutton, and [http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mof_gallery/MonFaePG27.jpg Choldriths] - their female priestly caste who resembles a spider except humanoid head and forelegs ending in humanoid hands.

** There's also Aranea, though they are more like werespiders without any common ~~lycantropic~~ traits. Still, they got a hybrid humanoid-spider form.

** There's also Aranea, though they are more like werespiders without any common lycanthropic traits. Still, they got a hybrid humanoid-spider form.

* Tsabo Tavoc, the Phyrexian general from ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]''.

** Sheoldred of the New Phyrexians have a similar look, although the lower portion is more like a cross between a spider and a crab, with four legs. And a giant mouth across its entire front,