Fates


The mythological Greek characters of destiny, The Three Fates. The Three Fates are Clotho, the spinner, who spins the thread of life. Lachesis, the measurer, who choses the lot in life one will have and measures off how long it is to be. Atropos, she who cannot be turned, who at death with her shears cuts the thread of life.

The Fates are old and predate the gods. It is not entirely clear how far their power extends. It is possible that they determine the fate of the gods as well. In any case, not even the most powerful is willing to triffle with them.


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The Fates appear in the novel The Lightning Thief when the Yancy Academy school bus brakes down. The author, Rick Riordan, relates the Three Fates to three old women on the side of the road sewing large socks. The Three Fates look directly at Percy Jackson and cut "a string of yarn". Percy is unaware it resembles his life. The Fates visualize Percy Jackson's destiny in this way and show there power, ability, and decisions.


http://www.greekmythology.com/Other_Gods/The_Fates/the_fates.html
Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. New York: Hyperion Books, 2006.

Rouse, WHD. Gods, Heroes, and Men of Ancient Greece. New York: New American Library, 2001.