Moirae The Fates Hanna Altarkawi
The Family Tree Horai Moirae Gaia & Uranus Cronus & Rhea Hyperion & Theia Coeus & Phoebe Iapetus & Clymene Oceanus & Thethys Themis Mnemosyne Themis & Zeus Horai Moirae Hestia Demeter Hades Hera Poseidon Zeus
Where Did they come from? The Moirae, also referred to as the fates are the daughters of Zeus and Themis. Themis is the second wife of Zeus and the Titan goddess of divine law and order. As we know Zeus is the son of Cronus and Rhea and is the ruler of the Olympian gods. Zeus and Themis had three other children known as the Horae (hours), who were the goddesses of law and order, and were also associated with the seasons The Horae: Dike: The goddess of moral justice Eunomia: The goddess of order and governing according to good laws Eirene: The goddess of peace and wealth
Who are the Moirae? The ancient Greeks believed that fate of man was determined by three sisters (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos) know as the Moirae. The fates were in charge of spinning out a child's destiny at birth. Although they assigned every person his or her fate, individuals still had the freedom to choose what they wanted to do on any given day. Man also had the ability to influence the goddesses. The fates were in charge of intervening with major aspects of ones life including death. Their name literally means "Parts." "Shares" or "Allotted Portions." In Roman mythology they are referred to as Fata or Parcae. Each sister was in charge of a different task: spinning the thread of life, measuring the thread of life, and cutting the thread of life.
Clotho Clotho, meaning spinner, was the goddess who spun the thread of life. The fates would appear three days after the child was born to determine its destiny. She is often depicted as carrying a spindle. Her Roman name is Nona She is often associated Ariadne, the goddess of fertility, who also carries a ball of thread. The Fates appear in many different myths. When Pelops was killed and served to the gods by his father Tantalus, it was Clotho who brought him back to life. Pelops eaten shoulder was replaced with a chunk of ivory.
Lachesis Lachesis measures the thread spun on Clotho’s spindle. In some myths she determines the destiny of the man, and how long they are allowed to live. Her Roman name is Decima. She is usually depicted wearing white clothing. She was also known as the “allotter”, since she determined how long a person lived by measuring Clotho’s string with her rod/staff. Elsewhere in mythology: She is mentioned in the tenth book of the Republic of Pluto. In the underworld she assigns lots for peoples next life. She also allows souls to choose whether they want to be a person or animal in their next life.
Atropos Atropos is the oldest of the Moirae sisters. She is known as the “inevitable” because she determined how someone dies. Her duty was to cut the thread of life, thus ending someone's life. She is known to carry her infamous “abhorred shears” which she used to cut the thread. Her Roman name was Morta. She is sometimes depicted carrying a scroll, a wax tablet, a sundial, and a pair of scales. Atropos is known for being the smallest, the cruelest, and the most feared out of the three fates.
The Moirae live in Zeus’ Palace on mount Olympus Where do they Live? The Moirae live in Zeus’ Palace on mount Olympus
The Importance of the Moirae The fates appear in many myths, either helping or harming the main characters. According to Aeschylus, Apollo got the fates drunk in order to prevent the fated death of Admetus (the king of Pherae). The fates agreed to spare Admetus if he could find someone to die in his place. Admetus’ wife Alchestis (daughter of Pelias) volunteered to die in his place. Zeus had control over the fates, whereas he could save anyone who was on the verge of being seized by their fate. In relation to the fates he is sometime referred to as Zeus Moiragetes. Aside from Zeus, everyone from mortals to gods had to submit to the fates.
Work Cited: http://www.greekmythology.com/Other_Gods/The_Fates/the_fates.html http://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Moirai.html https://www.citelighter.com/history/history/knowledgecards/the-fates