THE THREE WITCHES

…An Interlude

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzTYLWArvjY

BACK IN THE DAY

The Greek Moirai

The Roman Parcae, or Fata

The Germanic Norns

THE GREEK GIRLS

Clotho was responsible for spinning the thread of life on her spindle.

Lachesis measured each life thread as long as it was supposed to be, which was determined by the sisters.

Atropos, Lady of the Shears, determined how a person would die and would then cut the thread. She was immobile in her choice; she had an inability to second-guess herself

THE ROMAN GIRLS

Nona (Italian for Grandmother) was in charge of the spinning.

Decima (…like decimal? Hmmm) was there to measure.

Parcae cut each thread. Pronounced [par-kay].

THE GERMANIC GIRLS

Urd (fate)

Verdani (necessity)

Skuld (being)

They did their work at the base (in the roots) of the World Tree Yggdrasil in the realm of Asgard.

In these myths, the three were in charge of simply slowing the aging/rotting process by feeding the roots with magical mud. Each “life” was a root for them to tend.

T.B.S.A.G.R.

Ergo…

Our word “cloth” comes from Clotho.

Lachesis is today either associated with Homeopathy, or is one of the best gaming mice (mouses?) you can buy.

Atropa (fr. Atropos) is Greek for deadly nightshade.

…AND EMBELLISHED

Moira/Moirai: not an immortal, but a mysterious, tremendous power; stronger than the gods themselves

Scorn fate and you bring on Nemesis (translates as righteous anger) with her consequence

Homer told us that they are a fearsome immortal triumvirate, but separate one from the trio, and they will separately wither and die

Hesiod said that they can only ascend to Mount Olympus when all men have finally become completely wicked

MILQUETOAST HAPPENS

“Fate” is also the root of the word fae

Translates as “That which has been spoken,” implying a pre-pronounced destiny (everyone from Zeus to Pandora adds their two cents)

320 AD: Roman Empire converts to Christianity and the old myths quickly became fireside tales

Tales about the gods were diluted until they became the fae, an invisible but present race (gnomes, fairies, gremlins, goblins, trolls, etc.)

CHICKEN OR EGG?

Is our life more of a fate-driven path, or do we have absolute free will?

Was Macbeth evil because he was evil, or did the Witches plant that idea in his head, making him thus?

What do you think of when I tell you not to think about the color red?

REFERENCES

Hamilton, Edith. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. New American Library, Boston. 1942.

Evslin, Bernard. Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myths. Bantam, NY. 1966.

Warren, Rex (Fwd). Encyclopedia of World Mythology. Galahad, NY. 1975.