The Fates (Moirai)   mor a E

The Daughters of Necessity

The Goddess of Necessity, Themis, brought forth three lovely daughters, known as the Moirai (Fates). All living things must eventually submit to these divine daughters of Zeus and Themis. Their names are: Koltho (Clotho), Lakhesis (Lachesis) and Atropos.

Klotho spins the thread of life, Lakhesis determines the length of the thread and Atropos cuts the thread when the proper time has come for death. They are also called the Moirai to denote their descent from Moira, the original goddess of Fate. They are not to be confused with the Furies, who are the daughters of Nyx (Night). They laugh at our feeble attempts to cheat them because they always prevail. They are also known as the Moiras or Keras.

They are often confused with the Roman goddesses, the Morae.

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The Moirai in The Odyssey (listed by book and line)

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