> In Greek mythology, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos are better known by whichname?And the answer: The Fates.Photo courtesy: public domain.The three Moirai, or Fates, controlled the motherthread of life, from birth to death. Clotho spun the thread of life, Lachesismeasured the thread allotted to each person, and Atropos was the cutter of thethread, choosing the moment of each person's passing.The Moirai were the incarnations of destiny and controllers of the metaphoricalthread of life of every mortal, from birth to death. They independently directedfate, and saw that each fate assigned to every being could run its coursewithout obstruction. Gods and mortals alike had no choice but to submit to theirwill. (However, the all-powerful Zeus was portrayed in two ways: as the soleforce who can command the Moirai, or as the one who is bound to them as anincarnation of the fates.)Depending on the medium, the Fates have been portrayed anywhere from young,attractive women to old, wizened witches of sorts. They're often seen writing inthe book of fate, and winding the spool that is the thread of life. The Fates are popular characters in literature and film. From Shakespeare's Macbeth to Disney's Hercules, these three powerful god-like characters are theharbingers of the inevitable and the ultimate check to the power of Greek godsand titans alike. Learn more about the mythology and powers of these famoussisters below.