Moirae
The Moirae weren’t just goddesses; they were the embodiment of fate itself. These three sisters, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, spun, measured, and cut the thread of life, dictating the destiny of every mortal, god, and titan. Their presence instilled a sense of awe and a reminder of the inescapable forces that shaped existence.
Residence: Mount Olympus
Symbol: Spindle and thread, shears
Parents: Zeus and Themis
Siblings: The Horae
Roman equivalent: Parcae, Fatae
The Moirae, meaning “Parts,” “Shares,” or “Alotted Portions,” embodied the very concept of fate. These three sisters – Clotho the Spinner, Lachesis the Apportioner, and Atropos the Inflexible – weren’t simply observers; they actively shaped destiny. Clotho spun the thread of life, Lachesis measured its length, and Atropos, with her unyielding shears, determined its end.
Despite their grotesque depictions as crippled hags, the three Moirae – Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos – wielded immense power. These spinners of fate, though often portrayed as stern and unyielding, held dominion over the destiny of gods and mortals alike. Clotho, with her spindle and thread, initiated life’s journey. Lachesis, with her staff and celestial map, charted its course. And Atropos, with her shears, held the power to sever the thread at any point, ensuring the inevitability of death.
