Atropos

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Atropos
Goddess of Fate
Bas relief of Atropos cutting the thread of life.
AbodeMount Olympus
SymbolScissors
Personal information
Parents
SiblingsLachesis, Clotho, various paternal half-siblings

Atropos (

Ancient Greek: Ἄτροπος "without turn") , in Greek mythology, was one of the three Moirai, goddesses of fate and destiny. Her Roman equivalent was Morta
.

Atropos was the oldest of the

Lachesis, who measured the length. Atropos has been featured in several stories, such as those of Atalanta[5] and Achilles
.

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

Nyx (Night) and sisters to Thanatos and Hypnos, though later in the same work (ll. 901–906) they are said to have been of Zeus and Themis
.

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

Bitis atropos, refers to Atropos.[7]

The African Death's-head hawkmoth, Acherontia atropos, also has a species name which references Atropos.

Botany

The genus of the deadly nightshade,

Carolus Linnaeus
because of the plant's poisonous properties.

References

  1. .
  2. .
  3. ^ 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.
  4. .
  5. .
  6. .
  7. . ("Atropos", p. 12).

External links

  • The dictionary definition of Atropos at Wiktionary
  • Works related to Theogony at Wikisource
  • The dictionary definition of Atropos at Wiktionary
  • Media related to Atropos at Wikimedia Commons