Annabeth's Fear of Spiders: The Unrevealed Fear in Percy Jackson Episode 5

The Missing Moment in Percy Jackson Episode 5

Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 5 saw Percy and Annabeth bond via an iconic book sequence that missed a crucial moment for the latter character. After the events in St. Louis, Percy Jackson episode 5 saw the titular character and his quest companions continue their journey west to find Zeus' master bolt. This led to one of the more iconic chapters from the original Lightning Thief book being adapted via Percy Jackson episode 5's major story reveals.

Percy and Annabeth in the boat for Tunnel O Love in Percy Jackson episode 5

These story reveals led to an equal amount of book Easter eggs in Percy Jackson episode 5 as Annabeth and Percy were tasked with retrieving Ares' shield for the god of war. In order to do so, Percy and Annabeth encountered a new Olympian god: Percy Jackson episode 5's Hephaestus. All of this comes from the original book chapter that lends the episode its story, and while the latter is mostly faithful to the former, some book changes continue as a major moment for Annabeth is left out of Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 5.

Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth in Pery Jackson and the Olympians and Athena

The Myth Behind Annabeth’s Fear of Spiders

The fear of spiders that Annabeth possesses is explained to come from an original Greek myth in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. The Greek myth in question involves Athena, Annabeth's mother, and the weaver known as Arachne. In the myth, Arachne became so talented with her weaving that she wished to challenge Athena, who was also the goddess of handicrafts, to a competition. Arachne began boasting that she was better at weaving than Athena, enraging the goddess. Arachne then wove images of the gods' mistreatment of mortals, further evoking the anger of the Olympians.

Percy Jackson collage with actor Walker Scobell in foreground and Heroes of Olympus books in background.

After seeing how admittedly beautiful her work was, Athena cursed Arachne out of spite and rage, turning her into the mother of all spiders. In the world of Percy Jackson, it is explained that spiders have since hated the children of Athena, often singling them out due to Athena's unfair treatment of Arachne. This explains why Annabeth, as well as every other child of Athena, fears the arachnids, though this story is not explored in Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 5.

The Importance of Annabeth’s Fear of Spiders

All of this begs the question of why Annabeth's fear of spiders is so important in Percy Jackson. To those unfamiliar with the books, it may seem like a trivial, somewhat pointless fear that does not further Annabeth's character at all. However, Annabeth's fear of spiders returns in a major way in the Percy Jackson sequel series: Heroes of Olympus. In the third Heroes of Olympus book, The Mark of Athena, Annabeth is tasked with seeking out the Athena Parthenos, a statue of the goddess that was lost in ancient times.

Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Ares standing in front of an animal transportation truck in Percy Jackson episode 5

The quest leads Annabeth to Arachne, the immortal mother of spiders who is revealed to have stolen the statue. This story is heavily centered on Annabeth's character and her fear of spiders, as it involves her confronting the person whom all children of Athena are born to fear. This story is chronologically the eighth book in Annabeth's story and capitalizes on the set-up of her fear all the way back in the first book, making the spider scene in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief so important.