u/DiscordantDiscordian

Not sure if this is the right sub, but:

I've often heard the claim that arachnophobia is part of an evolutionary instinct of fear towards all sorts of "creepy crawlies", rooted in their potentially dangerous venoms and lack of aposematic colouring, but I'm having a hard time finding cultural evidence that spiders were feared in any meaningful capacity in pre industrial times.

They are present in various mythologies, but rarely portrayed as dangerous, with most seemingly being associated with patience and craftsmanship rather than with venom or stealth.

Are there stories I am missing, and if not, when did spiders flip from being viewed as diligent and minding their own business to horrorstory monsters?