Moerae (Fates)

Goddesses of fate. The Fates or Moerae (Moirai) were known by Hesiod as the three daughters of Nyx ("Night"): Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos. In later accounts they were known as daughters of Zeus and Themis, and possibly sisters of the Seasons (Horae).

Clotho (the "Spinner") was the goddess who spun the thread into a person's life; Lachesis (the "Dispenser of Lots") weaved the thread into a pattern, assigning destiny to each individual; and Atropos (the "Inexorable") ended the person's life by cutting the thread of life.

They were known as Moerae by the Greeks, and Fata or Parcae ("Bringers Forth") by the Romans. The Parcae had similar functions of the the Greek Moerae. Nona and Decima were the Roman goddesses of birth whose roles were similar to Clotho, and possibly to Lachesis. Parca, or Morta as she was sometimes known, was the Roman goddess of death and has been identified with Atropos.

Another name for "Fate" or "Necessity" is Ananke. The Orphic myth called her Adrasteia.