LACHESIS (one of the Fates)
Divine power · one of the Fates of Greek Mythology
Lachesis, one of the three Fates, is said to be born from Night or from Zeus and Themis.1,2 Some accounts name Night as her mother instead, yet she is always counted among the sisters Clotho and Atropos.1,2 Wearing a golden fillet, she holds a distaff in her hand, the tool with which she spins the threads of destiny.3,4 Zeus granted the Fates the greatest honour.5
At the birth of every mortal, Lachesis spins a thread that determines the course of their life, granting both good and evil things.4,2,5 Her spinning hand never turns backward, for fate, once set in motion, cannot be changed or reversed.4 She limits the extent of prophecies spoken by shades, ensuring that even death cannot reveal more than she permits.6 When Zeus needed to promise Helios an island, he commanded Lachesis to raise her hands high in solemn gesture.3 She does not violate the great oath of the gods, maintaining the strict boundaries of divine law.3
During this conflict, she glared evilly at the other Fates, refusing to yield the prize of the dying man.7 She also commanded a sudden fear to strike the hearts of people, robbing a father of his rejoicing and turning a bright day to gloom.8 Described as laying the ages waste with a crumbling thread, she wielded power that could unmake the joy of the living.9
Lachesis pursued the transgressions committed by both men and gods, inflicting severe penalties on sinners until they were fully punished.2
The codex facts behind this entry
Lachesis is one of the three Fates, born from Night or Zeus and Themis. Apollodorus 1.3.1 +2
Powers
Lachesis, along with Clotho and Atropos, grants mortals both evil and good things at birth. The Theogony ll. 211-225 +1 Lachesis spins the threads that determine the lives of mortal men. Seneca, Oedipus act 5 ¶3 Lachesis limits the extent of the prophecy spoken by the shade. Statius, Thebaid 4.627-651 ¶1 Her spinning hand never turns backward to change fate. Seneca, Oedipus act 5 ¶3
In the myths
Zeus commanded Lachesis to raise her hands high to promise Helios the island. Pindar, Olympian 7 ¶8 She clasped her claws around a wounded man to take his soul. The Shield of Heracles ll. 237-270 She fought fiercely over a single poor wretch. The Shield of Heracles ll. 237-270 She glared evilly at the other Fates during the fight. The Shield of Heracles ll. 237-270 She inflicts severe penalties on sinners until they are punished. The Theogony ll. 211-225 She pursues the transgressions committed by both men and gods. The Theogony ll. 211-225 She struggled for men who were falling in battle. The Shield of Heracles ll. 237-270 She used her claws and hands to fight the other Fates. The Shield of Heracles ll. 237-270 Lachesis commanded a sudden fear to strike the hearts of the people, robbing the father of his rejoicing and turning the day to gloom. Statius, Thebaid 2.240-265 ¶2 Lachesis is described as laying the ages waste with a crumbling thread. Statius, Thebaid 3.636-659 ¶1
Worship
Zeus granted the Fates the greatest honour. The Theogony ll. 901-906
