The Moirai (The Three Fates [The Spinner, The Allotter & The Unturnable])
mixed media on wood panel
84” x 143” x 2”
2002-24

The Moirai, or Fates, are deeply entrenched in Greek mythology as symbols of unchangeable destiny. Often portrayed as ancient and powerful deities, they are sometimes considered older than the Olympian gods. Their origins vary: in Hesiod's "Theogony," they are daughters of Zeus and Themis, emphasizing their role in maintaining natural order and justice. Themis personifies divine law, highlighting the Fates' role in ensuring a predetermined cosmic path. In other accounts, they are daughters of Nyx (Night), representing their primordial and inevitable nature. Nyx, a primordial deity, underscores the Moirai's ancient and inexorable characteristics and their connection to the universe's mysterious and inescapable aspects.

Clotho’s (The Spinner) role is to spin the thread of life. Her act of spinning represents the birth and the initial circumstances of an individual's life.

Lachesis (The Allotter) measures the thread of life, deciding the length of each life and its destiny. She allots to each person their fate, distributing the experiences and events they will encounter.

Atropos (The Unturnable) cuts the thread of life. She is the one who decides the manner and time of each person's death, ensuring that the destiny meted out by the Moirai is fulfilled.