Fates Role In Greek Mythology

Many things in today’s society are associated with Greek Mythology and all of the many categories that create it. The Fates are one of the most feared creatures in Greek Mythology, for they control life, destiny, and death. Although the Fates are very fearsome, they did not get their name easily. The Fates play a very important role in life, in dreams, and most importantly in Greek Mythology. The family, symbols, and myths of the Fates are what make their role in Greek Mythology so intriguing. Everyone has their beliefs on who the Fates parents are and what role they play in Greek Mythology, but to this day no one knows for sure who the Fates real parents are. “It is believed that the Fates were the daughters of Zeus and Themis”(Karas, Megas).

Some myths say that the Fates were weavers and others say that they were old, ugly ladies that were very boring and strict. “Clotho, the Spinner, who spun the thread of life; Lachesis, the Disposer of Lots, who assigned each man his destiny; Atropos, she who could not be turned, who carried “the abhorred shears” and cut the thread at death”(Hamilton 46). The three Fates worked together to create living creatures, in some myths the Fates are the reason why people have life,destiny, and death. “Portrayed in art and poetry as stern old women or as somber maidens, the goddesses were always thought of as weavers”(World Book Encyclopedia). The Fates were constantly working with thread and Atropos especially worked a lot with her “abhorred shears”. “In nearly all mythologies the three Fates, rulers of the past, present and future, are represented and many believe they symbolize the Triple Goddess, Virgin, Mother and Crone (Creator, Preserver and Destroyer)” (Pierre). The past, present,and future is what creates our society today, without those three words there would be no such thing as today or tomorrow. “The Fates were weavers in most mythologies. Within Anglo-Saxon literature fate is "woven" derived from the Latin destino (destiny) meaning that which is woven, or fixed with cords or threads; fate is "bound" to happen” (Pierre). The Fates believed that no-matter who one was and what one was doing when it was someone’s

The Fates are one of Greek Mythology’s most important creatures. “Some Greeks claim the Fates visit the cradle of every newborn to determine the child's future. They are thought to be the fairy godmothers” (Pierre). The Fates are brought into many childhood fantasies, things that occur daily, birth, and most importantly when someone is trying to find who/what they are. “ Gypsies still say "three ladies in white" stand at the cradle of each child, and take back the soul when life has run its course, like the Three Queens of Arthurian legend, Greek laments for the dead are still called moirologhia, giving the decease back to the Moerae” (Pierre). The Fates can do amazing things, but at the same time they can make someone perfectly fine go sane. Losing a family member is one of the hardest things a person goes through. “It is believed that magic can influence the weaving Fates. If they can by influenced not to severe the thread the individual with thus not die but live longer”(Pierre). Magic is priceless, it is said in some myths that if you give the Fates magic they will reward you by extending your life. The downfall of this bargain is the Fates would never tell the bargainer how much their life has been extended. “It may be that Zeus was the only one not bound by them, as an epithet that was used for him was Moiragetes (he who commands the fate)” (Greek Mythology). Zeus was the strongest, most well known