Atropos
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Atropos | |
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Goddess of Fate | |
Bas relief of Atropos cutting the thread of life. | |
Abode | Mount Olympus |
Symbol | Scissors |
Personal information | |
Parents | |
Siblings | Lachesis, Clotho, various paternal half-siblings |
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Ancient Greek religion |
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Atropos (
Atropos was the oldest of the
Origin
Her origin, along with the other two fates, is uncertain, although some called them the daughters of the night. It is clear, however, that at a certain period they ceased to be only concerned with death and also became those powers who decided what may happen to individuals. Although
Dispute of origin
In the ancient Greek poem, The Shield of Heracles, Atropos is referred to as the oldest and smallest of the three fates. This description is uncommon among references to Atropos. It is uncommon in ancient mentions of her in more ways than one as it turns out, including this fate's moniker. Plato may be behind the creation of Atropos as many of the early descriptions of the fates have Aisa as the name of this third fate, although there is still no clear consensus. The inconsistent nature of these accounts make it difficult to know for sure whether or not Aisa or Atropos is the best name to use when talking about the third fate, but evidence seems to point to Aisa being the more commonly used name earlier on, with Atropos gaining popularity later.[6]
Zoology
The scientific name of a
The African Death's-head hawkmoth, Acherontia atropos, also has a species name which references Atropos.
Botany
The genus of the deadly nightshade,
References
- ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6.
- ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
- ^ Clement of Alexandria. The Exhortation to the Greeks. The Rich Man's Salvation. To the Newly Baptized. Translated by G. W. Butterworth. Loeb Classical Library 92. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1919, pg 52-53.
- ISBN 9780787650155.
- ISBN 978-1421932125.
- JSTOR 497894.
- ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Atropos", p. 12).