Die Moiren; Tradition und Wandel des Motivs der Schicksalsgot... by Markos Giannoulis

It seems that originally the word moira did not indicate destiny but included ascertainment or proof, a non-abstract certainty. Moira may mean portion or share in the distribution of booty (ίση μοῖρα ísē moîra 'equal booty'), portion in life, lot, destiny, (μοῖραv ἔθηκαν ἀθάνατοι moîran éthēken athánatoi 'the immortals fixed the destiny') death (μοῖρα θανάτοιο moîra thanátoio 'destiny of death'), portion of the distributed land., The word is also used for something which is meet and right (κατὰ μοῖραν, katà moîran, 'according to fate, in order, rightly') The ancient Greek word moira (μοῖρα) means a portion or lot of the whole, and is related to meros, 'part, lot' and moros, 'fate, doom', Latin meritum, 'dessert, reward', English merit, derived from the PIE root *(s)mer, 'to allot, assign'. The three fates, Lachesis, Atropos, and Cloto by Hans Vischer ca 1530 AD. The goddess Dike (justice, divine retribution), keeps the order and sets a limit to any actions. In earliest Greek philosophy, the cosmogony of Anaximander is based on these mythical beliefs. The concept of a universal principle of natural order has been compared to similar concepts in other cultures like the Vedic Rta, the Avestan Asha ( Arta) and the Egyptian Maat. The ancient Greek writers might call this power Moira or Ananke, and even the gods could not alter what was ordained. It seems that Moira is related with Tekmor (proof, ordinance) and with Ananke (destiny, necessity), who were primeval goddesses in mythical cosmogonies. In Plato's Republic the Three Fates are daughters of Ananke (necessity). Later they are daughters of Zeus and Themis, who was the embodiment of divine order and law. In the Theogony of Hesiod, the three Moirai are personified, daughters of Nyx and are acting over the gods. In the Homeric poems Moira or Aisa, is related with the limit and end of life, and Zeus appears as the guider of destiny.

The gods and men had to submit to them, although Zeus's relationship with them is a matter of debate: some sources say he is the only one who can command them (the Zeus Moiragetes), yet others suggest he was also bound to the Moirai's dictates. They were independent, at the helm of necessity, directed fate, and watched that the fate assigned to every being by eternal laws might take its course without obstruction. They controlled the mother thread of life of every mortal from birth to death. Their number became fixed at three: Clotho (spinner), Lachesis (allotter) and Atropos (unturnable). In Greek mythology, the Moirai or Moerae / ˈ m ɪ r ˌ iː/ or / ˈ m iː ˌ r iː/ ( Ancient Greek: Μοῖραι, 'apportioners'), often known in English as the Fates ( Latin: Fatae), were the white-robed incarnations of destiny their Roman equivalent was the Parcae (euphemistically the 'sparing ones').

Die Moiren; Tradition und Wandel des Motivs der Schicksalsgot... by Markos Giannoulis