Lachesis
The second of the three Moirai, Lachesis measures the thread of each mortal life and assigns the portion of fortune and misfortune.
The Myth of Lachesis
Lachesis was the middle Fate, whose name means "allotter" or "one who assigns by lot." After Clotho spun the thread of life and before Atropos cut it, Lachesis measured its length and wove into it the events and character of each life. She drew lots for souls before rebirth, as described in Plato's Republic in the Myth of Er — souls approaching reincarnation chose their next life from samples Lachesis offered, with the lottery element ensuring no soul could blame the gods for its fate. She embodied the portion of existence that was assigned rather than deserved — the accidents of birth, wealth, beauty, and circumstance that no individual chooses. Her rod or staff was the instrument of measurement.
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Fun Fact
In Plato's Myth of Er, Lachesis oversees the reincarnation lottery — souls pick their next life from samples, but the choice is theirs, not hers.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Clotho
goddessspinning 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.
Fortuna
⚡ godLuck, fate, chance, fortune
Roman goddess of fortune and chance, equivalent to the Greek Tyche
Fate
💭 conceptLanguage 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
Moirai
💭 conceptThe 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.
Tyche
⚡ godGoddess of fortune and chance
Tyche was the goddess of fortune and chance — embodying life's unpredictability.
Atropos
goddessdeath, 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.
Moira
💭 conceptFate and one's allotted portion
Moira was one's appointed portion in life — determined by the three Moirai who spun, measured, and cut every life's thread.
Goddess of Fate
💭 conceptFate, destiny, lifespan, inevitability
The Moirai — Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos — spin, measure, and cut the thread of every life.
Fates
💭 conceptThe inescapable power of destiny
The concept of fate — moira — was central to Greek thought. Not even the gods could escape what was fated, making destiny the ultimate force in the Greek universe.
Moira
💭 conceptThe concept of allotted portion and destiny
The fundamental Greek concept that each person receives an allotted portion of life, and even the gods cannot exceed it.
Nemesis
💭 conceptThe goddess who enforces cosmic balance against excess
The force that punishes excessive fortune, arrogance, and any attempt to exceed one's proper share — the cosmic equaliser.
Juno
⚡ godMarriage, childbirth, women, the state
Queen of the Roman gods and protector of women and the state, counterpart to the Greek Hera