Fates

The Fates were three female deitiesgod or goddess destiny future or fate of an individual or thing who shaped people's lives. In particular, they determined how long a man or woman would live. Although a number of cultures held the notion of three goddesses who influenced human destiny, the Fates were most closely identified with Greek mythology.

The Greek image of the Fates developed over time. The poet Homer*, credited with composing the Iliad and the Odyssey, spoke of Fate as a single force, perhaps simply the will of the gods. Another poet, Hesiod(ca. 700 B.C.) Greek poet who wrote the Theogony, portrayed the Fates as three old women. They were called the Keres, which means "those who cut off," or the Moirai, "those who [The entire page is 777 words long]