197, the Kataklôthes are the Moirae, and not the Eileithyiae, as some suppose, Aisa and Moira would indeed be two distinct beings, but still beings performing entirely the same functions. 208.) But the personification of his Moira is not complete, for he mentions no particular appearance of the goddess, no attributes, and no parentage and his Moira is therefore quite synonymous with Aisa. 5.) Homer thus, when he personifies Fate, conceives her as spinning, an act by which also the power of other gods over the life of man is expressed. 209), follows his steps, and directs the consequences of his actions according to the counsel of the gods. 29.) In his poems Moira is fate personified, which, at the birth of man, spins out the thread of his future life ( Il. Homer usually speaks of only one Moira, and only once mentions the Moirai in the plural. MOIRA (Moira) properly signifies 'a share,' and as a personification ' the deity who assigns to every man his fate or his share,' or the Fates. KLOTHO, LAKHESIS, ATROPOS (Hesiod Theogony, et.

OKEANOS & GAIA (Lycophron 144, Athenaeus 15) NAMES EREBOS & NYX (Hyginus Pref, Cicero De Natura Deum 3.17) NYX (no father) (Hesiod Theogony 217, Aeschylus Eumenides 961, Greek Lyric V Anon 1018, Orphic Hymn 59) ZEUS & THEMIS (Hesiod Theogony, Apollodorus 1.13) The Romans name for the goddesses was Parcae and the names of the individuals were Nona, Decuma and Morta. At the birth of each man they appeared spinning, measuring, and cutting the thread of life. At other times the three were shown with staffs or sceptres, the symbols of dominion, and sometimes even with crowns. Klotho carries a spindle or a roll (the book of ate), Lakhesis a staff with which she points to the horoscope on a globe, and Atropos a scroll, a wax tablet, a sundial, a pair of scales, or a cutting instrument. The Moirai were described as ugly, old women and sometimes lame.

Their ministers were all the soothsayers and oracles.Īs goddesses of death, they appeared together with the Keres and the infernal Erinyes. As goddesses of fate they must necessarily have known the future, which at times they revealed, and were therefore prophetic deities. They assigned to the Erinyes, who inflicted the punishement for evil deeds, their proper functions and with them they directed fate according to the laws of necessity.Īs goddesses of birth, who spinned the thread of life, and even prophesied the fate of the newly born, Eileithyia was their companion.

The Moirai were independent, at the helm of necessity, directed fate, and watched that the fate assigned to every being by eternal laws might take its course without obstruction and Zeus, as well as the other gods and man, had to submit to them. As man's fate terminated at his death, the goddesses of fate become the goddesses of death, Moirai Thanatoio. The Fates did not abruptly interfere in human affairs but availed themselves of intermediate causes, and determined the lot of mortals not absolutely, but only conditionally, even man himself, in his freedom was allowed to exercise a certain influence upon them. It was not an inflexible fate Zeus, if he chose, had the power of saving even those who were already on the point of being seized by their fate. Zeus Moiragetes, the god of fate, was their leader.Īt the birth of a man, the Moirai spinned out the thread of his future life, followed his steps, and directed the consequences of his actions according to the counsel of the gods. Lakhesis (Lachesis), 'the Apportioner of Lots', who measured it, andĪtropos (or Aisa), 'She who cannot be turned,' who cut it short. Their name means 'Parts.' 'Shares' or 'Alottted Portions.' The individuals were Klotho (Clotho), the 'the Spinner,' who spun the thread of life, They assigned to every person his or her fate or share in the scheme of things. THE MOIRAI (Moirae) were the three goddesses of fate who personified the inescapable destiny of man. Fates Spinner, Athenian red-figure oinochoe C5th B.C., British Museum

Hand of fate king of scales