What does Atropos mean in Greek?
Atropos translates as “inevitable”. She was also the eldest and the wisest of the Three Sisters. According to some sources—though still heavily disputed amongst scholars— Zeus was the only god who was not bound by the Fates. He was able to overrule any decision they wished to make on a life.
Who is Clotho in Greek mythology?
Clotho was worshiped in many places in Greece as one of the Three Fates and is sometimes associated with the Keres and Erinyes, which are other deity groups in Greek mythology. Ariadne, the Greek goddess of fertility, is similar to Clotho in that she carries a ball of thread, much like Clotho's spindle. The Fooling of the Fates
What is the story of Clotho and Alcestis?
Ariadne, the Greek goddess of fertility, is similar to Clotho in that she carries a ball of thread, much like Clotho's spindle. Clotho, along with her sisters, was tricked into becoming intoxicated by Alcestis. Alcestis, who had two children with Admetus, became extremely saddened when Admetus became very sick and eventually died.
Who were Clotho's sisters?
According to Hesiod's Theogony, Clotho and her sisters (Atropos and Lachesis) were the daughters of Erebus (Darkness) and Nyx (Night), though later in the same work (ll. 901-906) they are said to have been born of Zeus and Themis.
What are the 3 Fates names?
The Fates – or Moirai – are a group of three weaving goddesses who assign individual destinies to mortals at birth. Their names are Clotho (the Spinner), Lachesis (the Alloter) and Atropos (the Inflexible).
What do the 3 Fates represent?
The three Moirai, or Fates represented the cycle of life, essentially standing for birth, life, and death. They would spin (Clotho), draw out (Lachesis) and cut (Atropos) the thread of life.
What is the Three Sisters of Fate about?
The Three Sisters of Fate (also known as The Fates or Moirai) are a group of Greek goddesses who weave the thread of time and fate, and assign mortals their individual destinies at birth. Their names are Atropos (the Inflexible), Clotho (the spinner) and Lachesis (the Alloter).
Who are the three sisters in the three fates?
Referred to in Mythology as the Moirai, or the Fates; Clotho, Lahkesis, and Atropos were the daughters of Erebus and Nyx. As the three Sisters of Fate, Lahkesis, Atropos, and Clotho determined the fates of every mortal, God, and Titan.
Who is Atropos?
Atropos, in Greek mythology, one of the three Fates, the others being Clotho and Lachesis. Atropos's name (meaning “unalterable” or “inflexible”) indicates her function, that of rendering the decisions of her sisters irreversible or immutable.
Who was Lachesis?
Normally seen clothed in white, Lachesis is the measurer of the thread spun on Clotho's spindle, and in some texts, determines Destiny, or thread of life. Her Roman equivalent was Decima. Lachesis was the apportioner, deciding how much time for life was to be allowed for each person or being.
Who was Clotho?
The Greek goddess Klotho (or Clotho) represents fate in ancient mythology. She has been celebrated in art over the centuries and today has found a role as the Klotho protein in biomedical research.
Are the Fates stronger than Zeus?
The Fates were even more powerful than the gods, though this did not stop the gods from trying. Homer writes it was the will of fate that the Greeks destroy Troy, when Rumor and Panic caused the Greeks to want to flee.
Do the three Fates share an eye?
The Graeae were three sisters in Greek mythology, who shared one eye and one tooth among them. Their names were Deino (dread), Enyo (horror) and Pemphredo (alarm).
Are the Fates evil?
The Moirai (or Fates) are three goddesses who 'give to mortals when they are born both good and evil to have' (Hesiod, Theogony, 218-9). In most texts, the names of the Moirai are given as 'Κλωθώ' (Clotho, Spinner), 'Λάχεσις' (Lachesis, Allotter of portion), and ' Ἄτροπος' (Atropos, Inflexible).
Who are Fates sisters supernatural?
Atropos's nameless sisters are said to be named Lachesis and Clotho. Naturally, the Fates are based on the Moirae of Greek mythology: Clotho ("spinner"), the eldest; Lachesis ("allotter"), the middle sister; and Atropos or Aisa ("unturnable," or "inevitable"), the youngest.
Is the Three Sisters fate a legend?
In Greek mythology, they were called the Moirae. In Pagan legends, they found their way into the archetype of the Triple Goddess. They are mothers to Fairies in modern folklore. And when Christianity arrived and attempted to bury the stories and banish their name, the Three Sisters of Fate persisted.
Are the Fates evil?
The Moirai (or Fates) are three goddesses who 'give to mortals when they are born both good and evil to have' (Hesiod, Theogony, 218-9). In most texts, the names of the Moirai are given as 'Κλωθώ' (Clotho, Spinner), 'Λάχεσις' (Lachesis, Allotter of portion), and ' Ἄτροπος' (Atropos, Inflexible).
Do the three Fates share an eye?
The Graeae were three sisters in Greek mythology, who shared one eye and one tooth among them. Their names were Deino (dread), Enyo (horror) and Pemphredo (alarm).
How would Homer define fate?
In Homeric description, the Fate acted independently from the gods and Zeus was the sole god who could control it. Zeus used to weigh human fates in his measuring scale, and when someone's lot weighed down, he died according to the Fate.
Are the three Fates gods?
In the Theogony of Hesiod, the three Moirai are personified, daughters of Nyx and are acting over the gods. Later they are daughters of Zeus and Themis, who was the embodiment of divine order and law....MoiraiParentsChronos and Ananke Ouranos Nyx Zeus and Themis6 more rows
Who is Clotho in the mythology?
Flemish tapestry (probably Brussels, ca. 1510–1520). Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Clotho ( / ˈkloʊθoʊ /; Greek: Κλωθώ) is a mythological figure. She is the one of the Three Fates or Moirai who spins the thread of human life;
What did Clotho do to help Pelops?
She also made major decisions, such as when a person was born, thus in effect controlling people's lives. This power enabled her not only to choose who was born, but also to decide when gods or mortals were to be saved or put to death. For example, Clotho brought Pelops back to life when his father killed him.
How did Clotho get intoxicated?
Clotho, along with her sisters, was tricked into becoming intoxicated by Alcestis. Alcestis, who had two children with Admetus, became extremely saddened when Admetus became very sick and eventually died. Alcestis used Clotho's drunkenness to try to get her husband back. The Three Fates explained that if they were to find a replacement for Admetus then he could be released from the Underworld. A substitute was not found so Alcestis offered herself up to be the replacement in order to bring her husband back to life. As the agreement had been met, Alcestis quickly began to grow sick and sank into her grave as Admetus came back to life. At the last instant, Heracles arrived at the home of Admetus. When Thanatos came to take Alcestis away, Heracles wrestled him and forced him to return Alcestis, allowing Admetus and Alcestis to be reunited.
What brought Clotho back to life?
Clotho brought him back to life, with the exception of a shoulder which was eaten by Demeter, which was replaced by a chunk of ivory. Clotho was worshiped in many places in Greece as one of the Three Fates and is sometimes associated with the Keres and Erinyes, which are other deity groups in Greek mythology.
Who were Clotho's sisters?
According to Hesiod 's Theogony, Clotho and her sisters ( Atropos and Lachesis) were the daughters of Erebus (Darkness) and Nyx (Night), though later in the same work (ll. 901-906) they are said to have been born of Zeus and Themis. Clotho is also mentioned in the tenth book of the Republic of Plato as the daughter of Necessity. In Roman mythology it was believed that she was daughter of Uranus and Gaia .
Where is the statue of Clotho?
Statue in Druid Ridge Cemetery, near Baltimore, Maryland, that represents the Greek fate Clotho. The Triumph of Death, or The 3 Fates. Flemish tapestry (probably Brussels, ca. 1510–1520). Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Clotho ( / ˈkloʊθoʊ /; Greek: Κλωθώ) is a mythological figure. She is the one of the Three Fates or Moirai who spins ...
Clotho
When mother sat me down, I feared the worst. Her words, however, offered praise instead. “Your gentle hands are motherly,” she said. “That’s why I’ve chosen you to be the first of three, the Fates, henceforth to spin the thread of life.” I sit before the spinning wheel, and every thread I spin, I spin with zeal, to make my mother proud.
Lachesis
We sisters three, the Fates, as progeny of Themis, she who counsels Jove, are bound by laws of gods, not men. “Your mind is sound, your instinct good.
Atropos
I cut the thread of life as Lachesis commands, yet I’m the sister hated most; while Clotho, always pale, is like a ghost, but plays a sweetheart role, our darling sis. I often feel that mine’s a thankless job. It calls for perfect vision, nerves of steel, and steady hands.
The Fates :: The Destiny Goddesses
The Fates – or Moirai – are a group of three weaving goddesses who assign individual destinies to mortals at birth. Their names are Clotho (the Spinner), Lachesis (the Alloter) and Atropos (the Inflexible). In the older myths, they were the daughters of Nyx, but later, they are more often portrayed as the offspring of Zeus and Themis.
The Fates: A Quick Profile
The Fates were originally called Moirai in Ancient Greece. The word moira means “share” or “portion” of something, whether meal, land, or victory spoils (compare this with the English word “merit” from the Latin meritum, “a reward”). By extension, Moirai means “The Apportioners,” i.e., the ones who give to each his own (portion of life).
Relationship with Zeus
It’s difficult to say whether Zeus had anything to say in the matters of the Fates, but, to the Ancient Greeks, it seems that even he wasn’t able to overrule their decrees.
The Fates in Particular Myths
The Fates do not appear that frequently in myths. True, they are usually portrayed attending the births of both mortals and gods, but, all in all, they rarely need to intervene in anyway whatsoever. There are, however, two interesting exceptions.
The Fates Sources
Compare the Fates’ genealogies in Hesiod’s “ Theogony ” by reading the relevant excerpts here and here. As for the story of the Fates and Admetus, you can find it in Aeschylus’ “Eumenides” – here and here.
Who was The Fates?
The Fates – or Moirai – are a group of three weaving goddesses who assign individual destinies to mortals at birth. Their names are Clotho (the Spinner), Lachesis (the Alloter) and Atropos (the Inflexible).
Who were brothers and sisters of The Fates?
The Fates had 18 siblings: Aether, Nemesis, Hemera, Moros, Apate, Dolos, The Keres, The Hesperides, Momus, Hypnos, Thanatos, Philotes, Geras, Eris, The Horae, Eunomia, Dike and Eirene.
Where did Atropos come from?
1520 ( Victoria and Albert Museum, London) The figure who came to be known as Atropos had her origins in the pre-Greek Mycenaean religion as a daemon or spirit called Aisa.
Where was Apollo's shrine?
On Korkyra, the shrine of Apollo, which according to legend was founded by Medea was also a place where offerings were made to the Moirai and the nymphs. The worship of the Moirai are described by Pausanias for their altar near Sicyon: "On the direct road from Sikyon (Sicyon) to Phlios (Phlius) ...
Who Are The Fates?
What Exactly Does Fate Mean?
- Although the Fates were are represented as a threesome, the concept of “Fate” under which they worked is singular. Therefore, they worked collaboratively to affect the entire lives of men and gods. The Fates gave each man his own fate. Fate, in this context, refers to all events before, leading to, surrounding, and resulting in death. They represented the unavoidable fate of every li…
Characteristics
- The Fatesare often described as being old, ugly women, who were strict, bitter and without mercy. They were often portrayed as dressed in ragged clothing, with snakes as hair, their skin blistered and eyes bloodshot. Despite their physical descriptions, immense power, and their cold personalities, the Fatescan sometimes be bargained with, so they are occasionally merciful. The…
Related Characters
- In Roman mythology, the Fates were named Nona, Decuma and Morta. There is a fundamental difference in the interpretation of the gods between the Romans and the Greeks. The Greeks often portrayed the three sisters as constantly busy maidens, whereas the Romans showed them as being in the way of human desires, blocking access to people’s hopes and dreams. The Greeks a…
Cultural Representation
- Literature
The poet Homer speaks of the Moirai as a singular force, as a decider of the end of all life, with all gods and mortals, barring Zeus, under the control of their spinning. In Homer’s work, the Moirai acts independently from the gods. However, the poet Hesiod wrote of them in his epic Theogon… - Visual Arts
The Fates are often depicted as wearing white robes. They are often shown each holding a staff, to highlight their power and dominance. Sometimes, they are shown wearing crowns. When someone is born, they are represented as spinning, calculating and snipping the thread of life, t…
Explanation of The Myth
- The Fates controlled the birth, death and lifespan of all gods and mortals. Every time a child was born, it was believed that the Fates would visit them three days after and decide whether the child should live. As soon as a child was born, the threads that the sisters used to determine life began to be spun. Each of the sisters had different roles. Clotho weaved the web of life from her distaf…