Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos, known collectively as The Moirai, as well as The Fates are three goddesses in Greek Mythology who decide the lives and fates of humanity.
Genealogy and Family[]
The Fates are either the daughters of Nyx alone and Primordial Goddesses or of Zeus and Themis and Olympian Goddesses. In one account, Nyx bore them and they were later sent to accompany Themis to Olympus.
Roles[]
Each goddess determine the exact life and fate of each mortal. As for their individual roles, Clotho the youngest sister starts threads, each one representing a human life, Lachesis continues it deciding the life of each mortal and Atropos cuts each thread causing death. The three goddesses are immensely powerful, with not even Zeus being able to sway them.
Stories[]
According to Greek Mythology, the Goddesses once appeared to a mortal woman, Queen Althea of Calydon, and warned her that a burning chunk of wood intertwined with her son's life would kill him, Queen Althea responded by defusing this piece of wood, allowing her baby, the Prince Meleager to live.
The premature death of Hyacinthus, one of Apollo's greatest loves, was decided by The Fates. Hyacinth was murdered by Zephyrus, God of the West Wind, who struck him with a frisbee out of jealousy for Hyacinthus choosing Apollo as a lover over him. This is why Apollo even though he tried could not bring Hyacinthus back to life as it was the final decision of The Fates.
Zeus' son King Tantalus once served his own son, Pelops as a meal to the Gods. Demeter, in sorrow for her daughter Persephone, leaving her for the Underworld ate the stew containing Pelops, to ease her sadness. Zeus however realised that the main course was his grandson, Pelops, and called his son out. Demeter who had ate a large chunk of meat felt sick. The Fates told the Olympians to reassemble the body of and ressurect the innocent Pelops. But when part of his shoulder was missing due to it being consumed by Demeter, Zeus asked Hephaestus to create an ivory shoulder pad for Pelops, Pelops went on to become the King of the Peleponnese, whilst his father was punished for eternity in Tartarus.
Depiction[]
In art, The Moirai are depicted as three women, Clotho, the youngest sister and Lachesis, the middle sister are depicted as youthful and beautiful. However Atropos, is usually depicted as elderly.
Personalities[]
Trivia[]
Clotho means 'spinner', Lachesis means 'allotter' and Atropos means 'inevitable' in Greek.
Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos have no records of romance or marriage in Greek Mythology. No children were recorded being born to them too.
The Roman equivalent of the group is called The Parcae and their individual names are given as Nona, Decima and Morta.