A lengthy thread was extended between their hands. In an abrupt moment, the eldest sister made a swift gesture, severing the slender thread. To an onlooker, this might appear as mere mundane needlework – what is so extraordinary about three sisters engaging in weaving? Yet, the threads in these women’s grasp were far from ordinary; they were the fates of humans.
Such were the Parcae – deities who decided the duration of a person’s life and the timing of their demise. They had a direct impact on human destinies. This likely explains why their sway was comparable to that of the formidable Olympian gods.
More commonly, they are known as: Clotho, the spinner; Lachesis, the allotter; and Atropos, the inevitable. In Plato’s “Republic,” the Moirai are depicted sitting on high thrones, clad in white robes, with garlands upon their heads, spinning the thread of life on Ananke’s spindle, harmonizing with the music of the celestial spheres. Clotho’s song is of the present, Lachesis’ of the past, and Atropos’ of the future. While they are traditionally considered the daughters of Kronos, other myths suggest they are the offspring of Nyx, Ananke, or Zeus and Themis.
But how was fate shaped? What role did each sister play? And what extent of power did the Parcae possess?
“Humanization” of fate
In numerous cultures, the goddess of fate is often depicted as a weaver. Peoples across the world have similarly envisioned human life as a thread—stretching out, yet destined to snap at a given moment. For some, this thread is a vast, tangled ball; for others, a delicate, slender strand.
Originally, Destiny lacked a concrete form in the human psyche, seen instead as a divine will linked to a sacred object or talisman. Over time, however, contemplation grew over the entity governing their existence.
This led to the emergence of patron goddesses, embodying both mercy and severity, benevolence and retribution, holding in their grasp the life of every individual.
A notable embodiment of fate is the ancient Greek Moirai. The Romans, admirers of Hellenic mythology, embraced these deities, integrating them into their pantheon as the Parcae. What vision did the people of Ancient Rome hold of these sovereigns of destiny?
Young maidens or old women?
The portrayal of the Parcae varies greatly among different authors’ descriptions. In ancient myths, they are often depicted as young women. At times, the Parcae are not portrayed as the same age, with the third sister appearing elderly. In certain interpretations, they are depicted as old women. For instance, Heinrich Heine describes them as ancient crones.
“Three old women, one similar to the other,
They are sitting by the road,
And they spin, and look sternly…
“They all have such nasty faces!”
The deliberate “aging” of the Parcae is well understood—they are as ancient as destiny, representing venerable beliefs and arcane wisdom. They personify the primordial edicts of the cosmos, governing life and death.
It’s unsurprising that the Parcae are often portrayed as elderly and somewhat intimidating figures. Indeed, they were sometimes depicted as youthful maidens in antiquity. This juxtaposition between their appearance and their age-old duties was evidently intentional. What were the specific roles of each sister?
The Mighty Force of Parcae
In legend, the three Parcae sisters are described, each endowed by the Romans with distinct functions. Let’s become familiar with them. The foremost of the Fates was Nona, who, researchers suggest, could be equated with the Scandinavian goddess Norna.
Nona, regarded as the patroness of pregnant women, aided in childbirth and was considered fundamental to the inception of life. She spun the magnificent thread of destiny on her spindle, entrusting it to her sister.
The second Fate, Decima, is often portrayed holding a staff. She does not use it for support but rather to measure the thread of life, determining the lifespan of individuals. At times, Decima may sever the thread prematurely, or she might allow a length tenfold her staff.
Yet, the most ominous to human imagination was the third Fate, Morta. Known as the embodiment of death, she presides over life’s cessation, pain, and suffering.
Moreover, Morta was deemed sovereign over the threshold between sleep and wakefulness. Born to the god of night and the goddess of darkness, her visage was shrouded in shadow. Despite this, Morta was not viewed as malevolent. Instead, she was seen as a merciful deity, cutting life’s thread to release humans from their anguish and trials.
In ancient poetry, appeals to Morta are common, where individuals suffering from illness plead with the goddess for relief from their pain and an end to their arduous lives.
Goddesses of fate akin to the Parcae were present in the mythologies of various cultures. The Greeks, Celts, and Indian tribes all had such deities. Human life was often depicted as a delicate thread, entirely at the mercy of these divine figures.
The Fates, or Moirai, were not seen as malevolent entities, but rather as figures marked by their sternness and rigidity. They could not be swayed to spare the thread of life prematurely, nor would they sever it before the predestined time. They embody fate, with plans inscrutable to mortals.
