Lachesis (/ˈlækɪsɪs/LAK-iss-iss; Ancient Greek: Λάχεσις, romanized: Lákhesis, lit. 'disposer of lots'; from λαγχάνωlanchánō, 'to obtain by lot, by fate, or by the will of the gods'), in ancient Greek religion, was the middle of the Three Fates, or Moirai; the others were her sisters, Clotho and Atropos. Normally seen clothed in white, Lachesis is the measurer of the thread spun on Clotho's spindle, and in some texts, determines Destiny, or thread of life.[1] Her Roman equivalent was Decima. Lachesis was the apportioner, deciding how much time for life was to be allowed for each person or being.[2] She measured the thread of life with her rod. She is also said to choose a person's destiny after a thread was measured. In mythology, it is said that she appears with her sisters within three days of a baby's birth to decide the baby's fate.
According to Hesiod's Theogony, Lachesis and her sisters were the daughters of Nyx (Night), though later in the same work (ll. 901-906) they are said to have been born of Zeus and Themis.[3] Lachesis is also mentioned in the tenth book of the Republic of Plato as the daughter of Necessity. She instructs the souls who are about to choose their next life, assign them lots, and presents them all of the kinds, human and animal, from which they may choose their next life.
Namesakeedit
Lachesis is a genus of pit vipers sometimes called bushmasters.[4] It includes the largest venomous snake in the Western Hemisphere.
Referencesedit
^Weigle, Marta (1 July 2007). Spiders and Spinsters: Women and Mythology. Sunstone Press. p. 12. ISBN978-0-86534-587-4. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
^Hesiod, Theogony 901–6; cf. Hansen, William; Hansen, William Freeman (2005). Classical Mythology: A Guide to the Mythical World of the Greeks And Romans. Oxford University Press. p. 153. ISBN978-0-19-530035-2. Retrieved 29 July 2013., "Dante's Inferno: Cantos XXXIII - Atropos". Cantos33.weebly.com. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Lachesis", p. 149).
Further readingedit
Thomas Blisniewski: Kinder der dunkelen Nacht. Die Ikonographie der Parzen vom späten Mittelalter bis zum späten XVIII. Jahrhundert. Dissertation Cologne 1992. Berlin 1992.
External linksedit
The dictionary definition of Lachesis at Wiktionary
Works related to Theogony at Wikisource
Media related to Lachesis at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
lachesis, other, uses, disambiguation, ancient, greek, Λάχεσις, romanized, lákhesis, disposer, lots, from, λαγχάνω, lanchánō, obtain, fate, will, gods, ancient, greek, religion, middle, three, fates, moirai, others, were, sisters, clotho, atropos, normally, se. For other uses see Lachesis disambiguation Lachesis ˈ l ae k ɪ s ɪ s LAK iss iss Ancient Greek Laxesis romanized Lakhesis lit disposer of lots from lagxanw lanchanō to obtain by lot by fate or by the will of the gods in ancient Greek religion was the middle of the Three Fates or Moirai the others were her sisters Clotho and Atropos Normally seen clothed in white Lachesis is the measurer of the thread spun on Clotho s spindle and in some texts determines Destiny or thread of life 1 Her Roman equivalent was Decima Lachesis was the apportioner deciding how much time for life was to be allowed for each person or being 2 She measured the thread of life with her rod She is also said to choose a person s destiny after a thread was measured In mythology it is said that she appears with her sisters within three days of a baby s birth to decide the baby s fate The three fates Clotho Lachesis and Atropos who spin draw out and cut the thread of life Flemish tapestry Victoria and Albert Museum London Contents 1 Origin 2 Namesake 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksOrigin editAccording to Hesiod s Theogony Lachesis and her sisters were the daughters of Nyx Night though later in the same work ll 901 906 they are said to have been born of Zeus and Themis 3 Lachesis is also mentioned in the tenth book of the Republic of Plato as the daughter of Necessity She instructs the souls who are about to choose their next life assign them lots and presents them all of the kinds human and animal from which they may choose their next life Namesake editLachesis is a genus of pit vipers sometimes called bushmasters 4 It includes the largest venomous snake in the Western Hemisphere References edit Weigle Marta 1 July 2007 Spiders and Spinsters Women and Mythology Sunstone Press p 12 ISBN 978 0 86534 587 4 Retrieved 29 July 2013 Hamilton Edith 1942 Mythology p 49 Little Brown and Company Boston ISBN 978 0 316 34114 1 Hesiod Theogony 901 6 cf Hansen William Hansen William Freeman 2005 Classical Mythology A Guide to the Mythical World of the Greeks And Romans Oxford University Press p 153 ISBN 978 0 19 530035 2 Retrieved 29 July 2013 Dante s Inferno Cantos XXXIII Atropos Cantos33 weebly com Retrieved 2012 10 03 Beolens Bo Watkins Michael Grayson Michael 2011 The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press xiii 296 pp ISBN 978 1 4214 0135 5 Lachesis p 149 Further reading editThomas Blisniewski Kinder der dunkelen Nacht Die Ikonographie der Parzen vom spaten Mittelalter bis zum spaten XVIII Jahrhundert Dissertation Cologne 1992 Berlin 1992 External links edit nbsp The dictionary definition of Lachesis at Wiktionary nbsp Works related to Theogony at Wikisource nbsp Media related to Lachesis at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lachesis amp oldid 1169650823, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
