Final answer:
Arachne is the character who was turned into a spider by Athena after boasting about her weaving skills and challenging the goddess to a contest. This myth should not be confused with Medusa's story, who suffered a different fate for her hubris against Athena.
Step-by-step explanation:
The character who was turned into a spider after challenging Athena to a weaving contest is Arachne. The myth of Arachne is not to be confused with the story of Medusa, who was turned into a gorgon by Athena after a different act of hubris. Medusa's transformation was a result of her comparing her beauty to Athena's, while Arachne's punishment came after she boasted about her weaving skills being superior to the goddess's.
In the contest with Athena, Arachne wove a tapestry that depicted the gods in a less than flattering light. This act of defiance and her unparalleled skill in weaving provoked Athena's wrath, leading to Arachne's metamorphosis. The story is an example of Greek mythology's recurring theme of mortals who suffer the consequences of their pride when they challenge the gods, a concept known as hubris.