The Fates (Moiras ou Parcas)

For Greeks and Romans the Fates were the goddesses who supervised fate or destiny. Hesiod (Theogony) considered them to be daughters of Zeus and Nyx (Night), other authors propose Themis as their mother. The Horae are assigned as the Fates’ sisters. For Greeks Clotho ('spin') selected the wheel of life, Lachesis ('raffle') measured the duration of earthly existence; Atropos ('exclude') would inevitably cut the thread of life. The Romans accepted these goddesses as: Ninth, Tenth and Dead. They would personify fatum.


Para Gregos e Romanos eram as deusas que supervisionavam a fatalidade ou destino. Hesíodo (Teogonia) considera-as filhas de Zeus e Nyx (Noite), outros autores propõem-lhes Thémis como mãe. Atribuem-lhes as Horae como irmãs. Para os Gregos Cloto ('fiar') seleccionava a roda da vida; Láquesis (‘sortear’) media a duração da existência terrena; Átropos ('afastar') cortava inevitavelmente o fio da vida. Os Romanos aceitaram estas deusas com as designações de: Nona, Décima e Morta. Seriam a personificação do fatum.

Unknowm-'three Fates'-tapestry Brussels-(1510-1520) London-Victoria and Albert Museum

John Melhuis Strudwick (1849-1935)-'a golden thread'-oil on canvas-1885 London-Tate Gallery

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828)-'Atropos'-oil on canvas-(1820-1823)

Unknown-'Achilles, Thetis and the Moirae'-mosaic-4th century AD Cyprus-Paphos

Asmus Jakob Carsten (1754-1798)-'Atropos'-sculpture-1794 Frankfurt-Städelsches Kunstinstitut