Araña, or the Spider Queen, is a deity in Indigenous South American mythology, known by various names such as La Arana Reyna, La Senora de las Aranitas, and La Reina de las Aranas. She is often represented by a female spider on her web and is believed to have powers associated with good luck, protection, love, or domination.
There are folktales involving Araña Reyna that suggest a possible connection to the Grandmother Spider, a beneficent spirit in Native American Indian lore. In one such folktale, a man pursued by criminals prays to God for protection and is aided by a small spider, symbolizing the divine intervention of Senora Arana Reyna. The spider weaves a web at the entrance of the cave where the man hides, misleading the criminals into believing the cave is unentered and thus saving the man’s life.
This blend of folktales and religious beliefs illustrates the cultural importance and reverence for the Spider deity in Indigenous South American mythology.