The Fates

Who Are the Fates?

The Fates, also known as the Moirae, are three goddesses. Their names are Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. Although it has never been proved, it is said that they are the daughters of Zeus and Themis. Together, the goddesses determine the fates of humans.

The Fates have a lot of power over the gods. They disobey powerful gods, like Zeus, but because they are not kind and are unforgiving, the gods tend to obey them.

Clotho:

Clotho is the youngest of the three Fates. Her name means "The Spinner." This suits her because her job is to spin the thread of human life.

Lachesis:

Lachesis is the "Caster of Lots." She measures the length of the thread (spun by Clotho) and determines its destiny. She decided how long a person's life was going to be.

Atropos:

Atropos is the eldest and smallest but the most terrible of the Fates. Her name means "Unbending." She is known as inflexible and inevitable. Atropos gets to cut the thread of life.  

A Story Involving The Fates:

The Fates weren't always so cold. There is a story where they tried to help reverse what they did:

     When Atropos "cut the thread" of King Admetus, Apollo, the King's friend, objected. He pleaded with the Fates to undo what they had done. Apollo even tried to get them drunk in order to bring Admetus back into the world. Apollo didn't know that the Fates were unable to accomplish this. Instead, the Fates promised Apollo that if someone else went to Hades, taking Apollo's place, that he would survive. Alcestis, Admetus's wife, took his place in the underworld. So the couple could be together again Hercules (he happened to be a guest of Admetus's at the time) rescued Alcestis.

Symbols:

Clotho was known to have a spinner so she could spin the thread. Lachesis had a measuring stick to measure the thread. Atropos had "abhorred sheers" to cut the thread (death).

Sources:

http://www.panteon.org/articles/c/clotho/html

http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/greek/articles.html

http://thanasis.com/fates.htm

http://www.greekmythology.com/other_gods/the_fates.html

www.vroma.org/~araia/lachesis.html