ATROPOS (one of the Fates)
Divine power · one of the Fates of Greek Mythology
- Parents
- Zeus, Nyx, Themis
- Siblings
- Clotho, Lachesis
- Haunts and cult places
- Thebes
- In the sources
- 6 ancient passages
Atropos, the eldest of the Moerae, stands as a ruthless avenging Fate born of Night.1,2,3 Her codex lineage also claims Zeus and Themis as parents, while her physical form is described as short and of no great frame.3 A hundred horned snakes rise to shade her face, where her sunken eyes glow with an iron hue.4 She wears a stark, grisly robe with dark fastenings on her breast, which Persephone and Atropos fashion anew.4
Zeus granted Atropos and her sisters the greatest honor.1 In battle, the Fates struggled to seize falling men, gnashing their white fangs while Atropos fought fiercely with claws and hands.3 After catching a wounded man, the Fates drank his dark blood, sent his soul to Hades, and cast his body aside before rushing back into the tumult.3 Atropos held a gleaming funeral torch in one hand while lashing the air with a live water-snake in the other.4
She journeys through shadows and fields dark with trooping ghosts, hastening to the gate of Taenarus.4 Rising from Malea's vale, she traveled to Thebes, where Day felt her presence and Night interposed a pitchy cloud.4 Atropos cut the destined years of the fifty warriors, causing their deaths.5 With her sisters Clotho and Lachesis, she never ceases from dread anger until punishing the sinner.2
Atropos possesses the power to grant mortals both evil and good things at their birth.2,1 She pursues the transgressions of both men and gods, punishing sinners with a severe penalty.2
The codex facts behind this entry
Atropos is identified as one of the Moerae, also known as the Fates. The Theogony ll. 901-906 Atropos is identified as one of the ruthless avenging Fates. The Theogony ll. 211-225 Atropos was identified as the eldest among the three Fates. The Shield of Heracles ll. 237-270
Appearance
Atropos was described as being shorter in stature than the other two Fates. The Shield of Heracles ll. 237-270 She was characterized as a goddess of no great physical frame. The Shield of Heracles ll. 237-270 They were described as gnashing their white fangs while struggling. The Shield of Heracles ll. 237-270 Her sunken eyes glow with a light of iron hue. Statius, Thebaid 1.94-119 ¶1
Powers
Atropos has the power to grant mortals both evil and good things at their birth. The Theogony ll. 211-225 +1
In the myths
After catching a wounded man, the Fates drank his dark blood to satisfy their souls, sent his soul to Hades, and cast his body behind them before rushing back into the battle tumult. The Shield of Heracles ll. 237-270 Atropos and the other Fates struggled to seize men falling in battle, with Atropos fighting fiercely using her claws and hands while glaring evilly at Clotho and Lachesis. The Shield of Heracles ll. 237-270 Atropos pursues the transgressions of both men and gods and punishes sinners with a severe penalty. The Theogony ll. 211-225 Atropos cut the destined years of the fifty warriors, causing their deaths. Statius, Thebaid 4.575-600 ¶2 Atropos and Persephone fashion her garb anew. Statius, Thebaid 1.94-119 ¶1 Day felt her presence and Night interposed a pitchy cloud. Statius, Thebaid 1.94-119 ¶1
Worship
Zeus granted Atropos and her sisters the greatest honor. The Theogony ll. 901-906
Fate
Atropos, along with Clotho and Lachesis, never ceases from dread anger until punishing the sinner. The Theogony ll. 211-225
