THEORY
IN THEORY: MOIRA, GREEK
GODDESS OF FATE
By Allison Jean
In a world of battle and strife, of chaos and bloodshed where even gods come to pass, a trio in Greek mythology
stands out, though they work their magic in the background: Moirai, more popularly known as The Fates.
In Greek mythology, these three
The Sisters of Fate were the
a single goddess. Merging them
sisters were the incarnations of
daughters of Nyx, goddess of night,
into one goddess highlights this
destiny. Together they controlled
and while their parentage marks
aspect of their nature. Though
the metaphorical thread of life
them as goddesses they were very
The Fates were depicted in lore
for every mortal, from life until
much apart from the rest of the
as ugly, elderly women, Moira
their death. Clotho, the spinner,
gods, act ing independently. Stern
stalks the battlefield in a younger
would spin the thread of life on her
and formidable, they ensured
form to better weather the rigors
spindle. She was the sister who
that their work was completed
of combat. To keep the trinity of
held the power of deciding who
uninterrupted. Even the other
the sisters alive in the concept,
was born and when they were born
gods feared them, having to
Moira dons a mask and a hooded
“EVEN THE OTHER
GODS FEARED THEM”
cloak with two masks on either
side; each one symbolizes one of
the sisters of Fate. The symbol
of Nyx, the goddess of night
and her mother, adorns her
belt and the clasp on her hood
- and whether or not to save them.
submit to them, though the role
beneath her throat. Moira has an
Lachesis, the allotter, measured
The Fates had on the lives of the
arsenal of weapons within arm’s
the thread of life on her measuring
immortals remains unknown.
reach: the spindle, measuring
tool, and shears The Fates are
rod. Through measuring she
controlled how long each person,
known for. The spindle, which
or being, would remain in the land
impossible to create a playable
she uses to spin and take hold of
of the living. Finally Atropos, the
character that is essentially three
the threads of fate, rests on her
inevitable, was the cutter of the
separate goddesses. To remedy
back. Bound to her right arm is
thread of life. It was Atropos who
this, I decided to merge the Moirai
her measuring tool; with it she
chose the manner of death for
into one character: Moira. This is
decides how long her opponent
each mortal and when their time
not just a practical consideration:
has left to live. The shears, with
was done she severed their thread
the Moirai are always mentioned
which she viciously decides
of life with her dreaded shears.
34
With SMITE’s mechanics, it is
as a whole, almost as if they are
viciously decides the fate of her
The SMITE Community Magazine Issue #4
The GameOn Magazine