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were the three Fates, Clotho, Lachesis, and
Atropos, the daughters of Jupiter by Themis,
or, as some say, of Erebus and Night. Ac-
cording to Varro, they derived the name of
Parcae or Partae from Partus (child-birth).

To these powerful goddesses was assigned
the imperative influence which governed all
things on earth, and decided the lot of man.
Clotho (from xXurfiv), the youngest of the
three, presided over the moment of nativity ;
Lachesis (from Xa^s7i»)spun the thread of life;
and Atropos (from olr^srrog), the eldest, divided
this thread with her fatal scissars :—

Clotho colum retinet, Lachesis net, et Atropos secaf.

One of the functions of the Parcae was also to
superintend at the return of those who ob-
tained permission to revisit Olympus or the
earth after having descended to the realms
of Pluto.

We see, then, that these divinities would
not only be in their proper place attending on
the important delivery of their august father,
who is sometimes called ^oi^yirrn, or leader

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