The Moirai – the Fates Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos – prophesizing the destiny of Meleager, the brother of Deianira
In Greek mythology, the Moirai, also known as the Fates, were three goddesses who controlled the destiny of every individual. The Moirai were Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, and each one represented a different aspect of human life. Clotho spun the thread of life, Lachesis measured the length of the thread, and Atropos cut the thread, signifying the end of a person’s life.
According to the myth, the Moirai prophesized the destiny of Meleager, the brother of Deianira, at his birth. They predicted that Meleager’s life would last only as long as a certain log that was burning in the hearth remained intact. Meleager’s mother, Althaea, quickly extinguished the log and kept it safe. However, years later, when Meleager killed his uncles in a family dispute, Althaea was so angered that she threw the log into the fire, causing Meleager’s death.
It is not clear whether the Moirai played a direct role in Meleager’s fate, or whether they simply foretold what would happen. However, their prophetic powers were feared and respected by the ancient Greeks, who believed that every person’s destiny was predetermined by the Fates.
