The Fates

The Fates in Greek Mythology were an ultimate force that even the gods could not stop or hinder. They were not on the side of good or evil. They simply existed to determine the fates of the gods and mortals. They are normally depicted as three old crones that sit in a triangle. The first one is Clotho, The Spinner. Clotho would spin the thread of life for a person to signal that the life was beginning. The second Fate is Lachesis, The Allotter. Lachesis would measure the Thread of Life to determine what the person would do and how long that person would live. The last Fate is Atropos, The Unturnable. Atropos was the one who had the ultimate decision. She was the one who would cut the Thread of Life at the end of some one's life. These three goddesses are some of my favorite because they wield such power. It is frighting to think about it, really. They could not be swayed and you cannot do a thing about it. Normally there is a saying that you need to change fate or do something about it. While I do think that this is valid, it's more about destiny that you need to change. Fate is unwavering and it is determined when you are born. There is no changing it. The Fates were not just in Greek Mythology. They also appeared in Roman and Norse Mythology. In Greek, they were known as the Moirai; Roman, Parcae, and  Germanic, Norns. They held the same kind of power in all of the these cultures and religions.