Clotho

goddessΚλωθώ

spinning the thread of life, birth, fate

The youngest of the three Moirai (Fates), Clotho spins the thread of every mortal life at the moment‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‌ of birth.

The Myth of Clotho

Clotho was one of the three daughters of Zeus and Themis who governed the fates of gods and mortals alike.‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‌ Her name means "the spinner." At birth, she drew out the thread of a life from her distaff — the length and quality of that thread determined how long and what kind of life would be lived. Her sister Lachesis measured the thread and assigned its portion of fortune and misfortune, while the third sister Atropos cut it at death. Even Zeus could not override their decisions once made, though he held a special relationship with them as their father. Clotho was depicted as a young woman carrying a distaff or spindle. Her domain encompassed birth and new beginnings — the moment existence commences.

Parents

{Zeus,Themis}

Children

{}

Symbols

distaffspindlewhite robes

Fun Fact

The word "cloth" traces back to the Proto-Germanic root meaning to stick or cling, but Roman poets frequently drew on Clotho's spindle as a metaphor for the fabric of life itself.

Words We Inherited

English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.

clothclothing

Explore Further

Lachesis

goddess

fate, life allotment, chance, measuring destiny

The second of the three Moirai, Lachesis measures the thread of each mortal life and assigns the portion of fortune and misfortune.

lachesis

Atropos

goddess

death, the cutting of the life-thread, inevitability

The eldest and most feared of the three Moirai, Atropos cuts the thread of life at the moment of death, choosing how each person dies.

atropineatrophy

Goddess of Fate

💭 concept

Fate, destiny, lifespan, inevitability

The Moirai — Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos — spin, measure, and cut the thread of every life.

moiraifatesclotho

Moirai

💭 concept

The three Fates who control destiny

The three goddesses of fate who controlled the destiny of every mortal and god. Even Zeus himself could not overrule their decrees.

fateatrophy

Fate

💭 concept

Language and destiny

An English word meaning destiny or predetermined outcome, derived from the Moirai, the three Greek goddesses who spun, measured, and cut the thread of every mortal's life

fatefatalfateful