The Fates Greek Mythology
SaMaraya Mosley
Mr. Neal World History Honors 2nd Period
February 11, 2013
The Fates
The Fates, or the Moirae, were the goddesses who decided the destiny of man. The Fates were described as ugly old women; they were severe, inflexible and stern. They put man into the category of good or evil, another choice of theirs is choosing how long a man shall live. They were said to come to every person on the seventh day after their birth in order to spin, measure, and cut their string of destiny.
There are three Fates, Clotho, the spinner, who spins the thread of life. Lachesis, the measurer, who chooses the things in the life man will have and measures off how long it is to be. Atropos, who cannot be turned, who at death will cut the thread of life with her shears.
The Fates are old and predate the gods. It is possible that they determined the fate of the gods themselves. The Fates were independent aside Hades throne in the Underworld they directed and watched the fate they assigned to everyone making sure that it take its course without obstruction.
A story featuring the Fates is of the birth of the hero, Meleager. When Meleager was born, the three Fates appeared to his mother Althaea and prophesized that he would die as soon as a burning brand on the fireplace was consumed. The mother seized the buried log and hit it safely away. Later, when Meleager had grown, and killed his brothers in dispute, his mother, Altaea, threw the log into the fire killing her son, Meleager.
Another major tale the Fates featured in was the story of the Giant Wars, where the three Fates killed a giant with a bronze club. They also tricked the monster Typhoeus, enemy of Zeus, into eating mortal food, weakening him before his battle with the king of the gods. In another tale, Apollo got them drunk and persuaded them to allow someone else to die in place of his friend Admetus, whose time had come.
The Fates resurrected the boy Pelops, who had been cut up and fed to the
Mr. Neal World History Honors 2nd Period
February 11, 2013
The Fates
The Fates, or the Moirae, were the goddesses who decided the destiny of man. The Fates were described as ugly old women; they were severe, inflexible and stern. They put man into the category of good or evil, another choice of theirs is choosing how long a man shall live. They were said to come to every person on the seventh day after their birth in order to spin, measure, and cut their string of destiny.
There are three Fates, Clotho, the spinner, who spins the thread of life. Lachesis, the measurer, who chooses the things in the life man will have and measures off how long it is to be. Atropos, who cannot be turned, who at death will cut the thread of life with her shears.
The Fates are old and predate the gods. It is possible that they determined the fate of the gods themselves. The Fates were independent aside Hades throne in the Underworld they directed and watched the fate they assigned to everyone making sure that it take its course without obstruction.
A story featuring the Fates is of the birth of the hero, Meleager. When Meleager was born, the three Fates appeared to his mother Althaea and prophesized that he would die as soon as a burning brand on the fireplace was consumed. The mother seized the buried log and hit it safely away. Later, when Meleager had grown, and killed his brothers in dispute, his mother, Altaea, threw the log into the fire killing her son, Meleager.
Another major tale the Fates featured in was the story of the Giant Wars, where the three Fates killed a giant with a bronze club. They also tricked the monster Typhoeus, enemy of Zeus, into eating mortal food, weakening him before his battle with the king of the gods. In another tale, Apollo got them drunk and persuaded them to allow someone else to die in place of his friend Admetus, whose time had come.
The Fates resurrected the boy Pelops, who had been cut up and fed to the