Hey y'all! Here's another post about seldom talked about Hellenic deities and figures. This time it's the Fates!
Who are the Fates?
The Moirai, more commonly known as The Fates, were a trio of sisters in charge of deciding the events of every person's life from birth to death
"The individuals were Klotho (Clotho), the "the Spinner," who spun the thread of life, Lakhesis (Lachesis), "the Apportioner of Lots", who measured it, and Atropos (or Aisa), "She who cannot be turned," who cut it short." (source)
The Moirai would appear three days after a child's birth in order to determine the course of their life.
According to Homer, Zeus worked alongside them, acting as the guide of destiny.
Some sources say that they are the daughters of Nyx and act as a governing power over the gods. Other sources list them as the daughters of Zeus and Themis.
Their companion was Eileithyia, the goddess of birth.
They knew the fates and destinies of everyone, and would sometimes reveal it in prophecy.
The Moirai acted independently of the Olympians, and were sometimes even feared by the gods.
They usually appeared as three old women, and were sometimes described as ugly and lame. They often carried staffs.
In the Roman pantheon, they were known as the Parcae, and were named Nona, Decuma, and Morta.
They had three known temples. One was in Corinth, one in Sparta, and one in Thebes. Their temple in Sparta was next to the grave of Orestes, the son of Agamemnon. They also had altars in some temples to Zeus and Apollo.
Working With The Fates
The Fates were not largely worshipped or worked with, but it is possible.
Colors: black, brown, grey, white, gold
Symbols: a spindle or a roll (the book of ate), a staff, a globe, scroll, a wax tablet, a sundial, a pair of scales, or a cutting instrument.
This was Under-Exposed: The Fates. Thank you for reading! Feel free to comment with the deity or figure you'd like to see next!
Other posts in this series:
Comment