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Fates/Moirae
Moirae by Austine Moon, Clarksville Middle
School
The
Fates, or Moirae, were these goddesses controlled the destiny
of everyone from the time they were born to the time they
died.
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They
were:
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Clotho,
the spinner, who spun the thread of a person's
life,
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Lachesis,
the apportioner, who decided how much time
was to be allowed each person,
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and
Atropos, the inevitable, who cut the
thread when you were supposed to die.
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Even
though the other gods were almighty, and supposedly immortal,
even Hera had reason to fear them.
All were subject to the whims of the Fates.
Ministers
of the Fates were always oracles or soothsayers (seers of
the future).
The
Fates were very important, but it is still unknown to who
their parents were. There is some speculation that they
might be the daughters of Zeus,
however, this is debatable.
The
Fates were often depicted as ugly hags, cold and unmerciful.
But the Fates were not always deaf to the pleading of others.
When Atropos cut the thread of King Admetus, who happened
to be Apollo's friend, Apollo begged the Fates to undo their
work. It was not in their power to do so, but they promised
that if someone took Admetus' place in the gloomy world
of Hades' domain, he would live.
The king's wife, Alcetis, said she would take his place.
But Hercules, who happened
to be Admetus' guest, rescued her from the underworld, and
Admetus an Alcetis were reunited.
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return to index
'from the Encyclopedia Mythica' -
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