Moirae: The wielders of fate

The Moirae in Greek mythology are the personifications of destiny. Same as the Charites and the Hesperides, they were three, Clotho, Atropos and Laxesis. Their power was great among men because they controlled the thread of life of every mortal from birth to the end.  In fact Greeks believed they appeared three nights after a child's birth to determine the course of its life.

Their duties were simple and ruthless. Clotho would spin the string of life from her distaff onto her spindle. At the same time Lachesis measured the string of life preordained for each mortal with her measure. Finally the “inevitable” Atropos was responsible for cutting the string of life. She was the one to choose the way of each person died. When the time was near, she cut their life-string with her shears.

The extent to which the Moirae affected the lives of the immortals is not determined, but it is a known fact that even Zeus was respectful and mindful of their powers.

More Deities

In Greek mythology the Horae were the three daughters of Zeus and Themis, Eunomia, Diké, and Eirene, who were law-and-order goddesses.

The Hyades were the daughters of Atlas and or Aethra, and sisters to the Pleiades and the Hesperides. They were a sisterhood of nine nymphs responsible for bringing rain.

Morpheus is the son of Nyx, the primordial goddess of the Night. He is the god of dreams, the older and master of the Oneiroi.

The Naiads, probably daughters of sea god Poseidon, were nymphs who presided over fountains, springs and streams. The Naiads were neither river goddesses nor ancient spirits that inhabited the still waters of marshes.

The Oceanids were the daughters of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. They were plenty in number, too many to be counted. Each of the three thousand daughters was the patroness of a spring, lake, pond, pasture, or flower.