moira moira or parks

(Μοι̃ραι, Parcae). Three goddesses, daughters of the Night, who control the fate of man (μοίρα - fate). The first, Clofo, spins the thread of life; the second, Lachesis, determines the fate of life; the third, Atropa, i.e. inevitable, cuts off the thread of life. They know in advance the fate that awaits each person, and people must obey these powerful goddesses. The Romans called these goddesses parkas.

(Source: " Concise Dictionary mythology and antiquities. M. Korsh. St. Petersburg, edition of A. S. Suvorin, 1894.)

(Μοίραι, moira, lit. "part", "share", hence the "fate" that everyone receives at birth), in Greek mythology goddess of fate. In the initial ideas, the moira-destiny of everyone is embodied in a certain material object - a fetish, a carrier of vital potentialities. Yes, moira Meleagra is enclosed in the brand left from the sacrificial fire, hidden by the mother of the hero. Wanting to destroy her son, the mother took out the brand and threw it into the fire, where it burned down, thereby causing the painful death of Meleager (Apollod. I 8, 2-3). When animistic notions prevailed, Magic power, enclosed in a fetish, began to appear as an independent deity, which endows a person with one or another fate, expresses his will to him, determines his future life. M. is now understood as fate (“what is spoken”) and fate (“what is destined”), although for these concepts in Greek special terms are developed, along with the name "M." M. is a dark invisible force, it does not have a distinct anthropomorphic appearance, the image of M. in ancient art is rare. With the development of Olympic mythology, ideas about one (Not. II. V 613), or two (Paus. X 24, 4), or three Ms became stable. The most common myth is about the three sisters-M. Archaic M. are the daughters of the night, which also gave birth to death, sleep, Nemesis, Eris and Hesperides (Hes. Theog. 211-225). Their names are Lachesis ("giving lots"), Clotho ("spinning"), Atropos ("inevitable"). Lachesis appoints a lot even before the birth of a person, Clotho spins the thread of his life, Atropos inevitably brings the future closer. Plato believes that these three M. are the daughters of the goddess Ananke("necessity") that turns the world's spindle (Plat. R. R. X 617 b-e). The relationship between M. and the Olympic gods is complex. As a result of the archaic - the dependence of the gods on M. and their ignorance of what was intended. So, Zeus, wanting to know the dictates of fate, weighs the lots of human lives on golden scales (Not. II. XXII 209-214). However, there is a variant of the myth according to which olympic zeus was the father of M., born by Themis (Hes. Theog. 901-906).
M. are involved in Zeus (Pind. 01. VIII 22), he is called Morius (Soph. O. S. 705). Zeus and Apollo are also called Moiragetes (“drivers of M.”). The epithet of Zeus “the arbiter of destinies” (the inscription on the altar in Olympia) means (according to Pausanias) that God “knows human affairs and everything that M. appointed, and everything that they refused” (Paus. V 15, 5 ). In the temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens, over the head of the statue of Zeus, there was an image of M., and it was obvious to everyone that “predestination and fate obey Zeus alone” (Paus. I 40, 4). In the Hellenistic era, the goddess competes with M. Quiet(goddess of chance), characterizing the instability and variability of life. M. correspond to Roman parks..
Lit.: Losev A. F., Homer, M., I960, p. 270-342; Leitzke E., Moira und Gottheit im alten griechischen Epos, Gott., 1930 (Diss);
Stelnbach E., Der Faden der Schlcksalsgot-theiten, Lpz., 1931; Krauae W., Zeus und Moira bei Homer, "Wiener Studien, 1949, Bd 64, S. 10-52.
A. F. Losev.

(Source: "Myths of the peoples of the world".)

Three daughters of Zeus and Themis. Goddess of human destiny. At first it was believed that each person has his own destiny - moira. So, Homer knows only one Moira - inevitable fate. Later, they began to believe that all three sisters take part in the life fate of each person: Clotho spins the thread of life, Lachesis takes out, without looking, the lot that has fallen to a person and draws the thread of human life through all the vicissitudes of fate, Atropos cuts the life thread at the appointed hour. The gods also obeyed the moira. They were depicted as a stern-looking old woman: Clotho with a spindle in his hand, Lachesis with a measure or scales, and Atropos with a book of life and scissors. Moira corresponds to the Roman Parks.

// Vladislav KHODASEVICH: Parks

(Source: Myths Ancient Greece. Dictionary reference.» EdwART, 2009.)

(Clotho, who spun the thread of life, Lachesis, who pulled this thread, Atropos, who cut it) - in Greek mythology, the daughter of Zeus and Themis, the goddess of inevitable fate.

(Source: "Dictionary of spirits and gods of the German-Scandinavian, Egyptian, Greek, Irish, Japanese mythology, Mayan and Aztec mythologies.")

See what "Moira" is in other dictionaries:

- (Greek Moirai share.) Goddesses of fate, 3 daughters of the Night; birth and death are under their special protection. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. Moira Greek. Moirai, from moira, part, share, fate. ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

MOYRA, in Greek mythology, the three daughters of Zeus and Themis (goddess of fate): Clotho spins the thread of life, Lachesis sets the lot, Atropos cuts the thread of life. Moirai correspond to the Roman Parks ... Modern Encyclopedia

moira- MOYRA, in Greek mythology, the three daughters of Zeus and Themis (goddess of fate): Clotho spins the thread of life, Lachesis appoints lots, Atropos cuts the thread of life. Moirae correspond to the Roman Parks. … Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

In Greek mythology, the three daughters of Zeus and Themis, the goddess of fate: Clotho spins the thread of life, Lachesis distributes destinies, Atropos cuts the life thread at the appointed hour. Moirs correspond to Roman Parks ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Parks, Lachesis, wheel of fortune, fate, Atropos, Clotho, Atropa Dictionary of Russian synonyms ... Synonym dictionary

- (Moirai) Greek. goddess of fate. The early religious worldview designated by this name the supreme law of nature, pointing to the gods as its executors; along with the expression DioV aisa, the expression moirai Jewn is often found. From this view... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

Triumph of death. Three moira. Flanders tapestry (circa 1510-1520). Victoria and Albert Museum ... Wikipedia

In Greek mythology, the three daughters of Zeus and Themis, the goddess of fate: Clotho spins the thread of life, Lachesis distributes destinies, Atropos cuts the life thread at the appointed hour. Moira corresponds to Roman parks. * * * MOYRA MOYRA, in Greek mythology… … encyclopedic Dictionary

moira- (Greek Moiroi) in Greek mythology, the goddess of human destiny, the daughter of Zeus and Themis. The most famous are the three m. Lachesis (“giving lots”), Cloto (“spinning”) and Atropos (“inevitable”). In literature, they were portrayed as sinister old women, ... ... ancient world. Dictionary reference.

MOIRS- (Greek) or PARKS (lat.) Goddesses of fate. Daughters of Zeus and Themis. Three moiras were usually mentioned: Clotho - spun the thread of life, Lachesis - determined the lot, and the most formidable - Atropos - cut the life thread. In the temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens over ... ... Dictionary-reference book on Ancient Greece and Rome, on mythology

The northern goddesses of fate, the norns, do not obey other gods in any way, they cannot be challenged and their predictions cannot be influenced. The Norns are three sisters, probably the descendants of the giant Hep, from whom Nott (night) descended. After the golden age ended and sin crept even into the divine homes in Asgard, the Norns appeared under the ash tree Yggdrasil and settled at the source of Urd. According to some mythologists, their mission was that they should warn the gods of coming evil, persuade them to live in goodness in the present, and teach them from the examples of the past.

Their names are Urd, Verdandi and Skuld, and they represent the past, present and future. Their main occupation was spinning the thread of fate. In addition, they must water the roots of the sacred tree with water from the spring of Urd and add fresh earth to keep the tree forever green.

They also appeared there
three seer maidens,
settled there
under the tree they are:
first Urd,
Verdandi too
(lots were cut)
and the third Skuld:
fate was judged
lined up life
to everyone who is born
the node was called ...

(Elder Edda. Divination of the völva.) (Translated by V. Tikhomirov)

According to some sources, the Norns tirelessly watched the golden apples that grew on the branches of the Tree of Life, Experience and Knowledge, and did not allow anyone except the goddess Idunn to pluck them. These were rejuvenating apples, thanks to which the gods kept their youth.

At times, the Norns also fed and tenderly cared for the two swans that swam on the mirror-like surface of the Urd Spring. It is assumed that all swans on earth originated from this pair of swans. Sometimes the norns, dressed in swan plumage, visited the earth and had fun like mermaids on the seashore, as well as in various rivers and lakes, from time to time being mortals, predicting their future and giving wise advice.

Sometimes the Norns wove such long threads of fate that when one of them stood on a high mountain in the far east, the other at that time was far out to sea in the west. The threads they spun resembled ropes and differed in color, depending on the nature of the upcoming events. A black thread stretched from north to south was certainly considered an omen of death. And when the sisters worked as a shuttle, they sang a solemn song. They did not spin according to their desires, but blindly obeyed the desires of Orlog, eternal law universe, older than they, and higher power which obviously had no beginning and no end.

Two Norns, Urd and Verdandi, weaved the threads, while the third mercilessly tore them, very often, almost finished, scattering the remnants to the wind. As the personification of time, the norns are presented as sisters of different ages and characters. Urd (Wurd, that is, “fate”, “past”) appears very old and weak, constantly looking back, absorbed in reflections on past events and departed people. Verdandi (becoming, present), the second sister, young, active and fearless, looks straight ahead. While Skuld (duty, future) appears wrapped in a dense veil, with her head turned to the opposite top, where Urd is looking, holding an unopened book or an unopened scroll in her hands.

The norns were visited daily by the gods, who liked to consult with them, and even Odin often descended to the source of Urd to seek their help. They answered his questions, but passed over in silence only those that concerned his fate or the fate of other gods.

He rode long and fast
To the origins of the great Tree of life.
He was looking for a way to the sacred spring,
To the three sisters - the prophets.
The first is Urd, the norn of the past,
Her gaze is directed back,
She can't tell the real one, and
Tell the future.
Verdandi holds a book with an open page,
Dark shadows on her, portending grief,
Shadows that roam over Asgard -
Bringing evil.
But not on this page is a secret,
That Valhalla can save.
The third sister is the youngest, Skuld -
future predictor,
standing looking away
And, no matter how they ask her, she remains silent,
While brushing away a tear.

(Doc. Jones. Valhalla)

In addition to the three main norns, there were many others, not so important, who were the patron spirits of people, to whom they often appeared, generously giving gifts, and almost always present at birth, marriage and death.

Oh, their relatives are numerous, and who will certainly tell them
about everything?
It is they who rule the people, and the stars go out and light up
by their will.

(William Morris. Sigurd Volsung)

Once three sisters visited Denmark and came to the house of a noble person at the moment when his first child was born. Entering the room where the child's mother lay, the first norn promised that he would be brave and handsome, the second that he would be a successful and great skald poet. These predictions filled the hearts of the parents with joy. In the meantime, this news had become known to the neighbors, and they rushed into the house. A curious crowd filled the dwelling, while someone in the crowd roughly pushed the third norn from the chair.

Furious at this insult, Skuld proudly stood up and declared that the gifts of the sisters were useless, since she predicted that the child would live as long as the candle at his cradle would burn. These ominous words filled the mother's heart with horror, and with trembling hands she pressed the child to her breast, as the candle was burning down and was soon to go out. The oldest of the norns did not want her prediction to be empty, and at the same time she could not force her sister to take back the words. Therefore, she quickly grabbed a candle, put out the fire and gave the smoking cinder to the mother of the child, telling her not to light the candle again until her son got tired of life.

At night, the norns entered the dwelling,
deciding what to be the prince of fate.

(Elder Edda)

The boy was called Nornagest, after the norns, and he grew up handsome, bold and talented, the way any mother would want her child to be. When he was old enough to understand the gravity of his mother's concern, she told him the story of the norn's visit and gave him a candle stub, which he carefully kept hidden inside the harp. When his parents died, Nornagest went to wander the world, distinguished himself in numerous battles and composing his heroic songs. Since he was enthusiastic and had a poetic mindset, he was not soon tired of life. While other heroes grew old and wrinkled, he remained young in both body and soul. Therefore, he witnessed the exciting deeds of the heroic years, was a good comrade to the ancient warriors and, having lived for three hundred years, witnessed how Christianity replaced the old pagan gods. In the end, Nornagest came to the court of King Olav Trygvesson, who, as was his wont, almost forced him to true faith forcing him to be baptized. Then, wanting to convince the people that the time for superstition had passed, the king made the old skald take out and light the candle that he had so carefully kept for more than three centuries.

Despite his recent conversion to Christianity, Nornagest watched in awe as the flames flickered, and when the candle finally burned out, he sank lifelessly to the ground, thus proving that, despite having been baptized, he still believed in Norn divination.

In the Middle Ages and later, the Norns figured in many plots and myths, appearing as sorceresses or witches, as, for example, in the fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty" or in Shakespeare's tragedy "Macbeth".

First Witch
When in the midst of lightning, in rain and thunder
Will we see each other again?
Second Witch
When one of the governors
He will break another in battle.
third witch
Dawn will decide its outcome.

(W. Shakespeare. Macbeth.) (Translated by B. Pasternak)

Norns were sometimes called ramparts, or prophetesses, because they had the power to predict fate, a power that was revered by the peoples of Northern Europe, who believed that only women possessed it. The shaft's predictions were never disputed and it was said that the Roman general Drusus was so frightened by the prophecy of one of them, Veleda, who warned him against crossing the Elbe, that he really retreated. She also predicted to him the approach of death, which soon came due to a fall from a horse.

These prophetesses, also known as the Idis, Dis, and Hagedith, practiced worship in places of worship in the forests and in sacred groves, have always accompanied invading armies. Riding in front of the army or in the middle of it, they furiously urged the soldiers to victory, and when the battle was over, they often cut the eagles over the bodies of the prisoners. The blood was collected in huge vats where the Dises dipped their hands up to their shoulders before joining in the wild dances that ended the ceremonies.

It is quite obvious why people were so afraid of these women. Sacrifices were offered to appease them, and in later times they were counted among the witches who live on Mount Brocken, or Blocksberg, and dance on Walpurgis Night.

Apart from the norns, or dis, who were looked upon as patron deities, the peoples of Northern Europe attributed to each human being a protective spirit called Filgier, who accompanied a person all his life, either in human form or in the form of an animal, until the death of a person, remaining invisible to everyone, with the exception of a few initiates.

The allegorical meaning of the norns and their threads of fate is too obvious and needs no explanation. Nevertheless, some mythologists rank them among the spirits of the air, while the yarn is represented by a host of clouds or fog covering rocks and trees, stretching from mountain to mountain, torn apart by a sudden, sharp wind. According to some sources, the third Norn - Skuld - was one of the Valkyries, others associate her with the terrifying death goddess Hel.

However, "Moira" is not the only designation of fate among the Greeks. For example, Homer uses more than a dozen expressions to denote fate (after all, we also say: share, fate, fate, inheritance, etc.). Moira was usually accompanied by the epithets "evil", "pernicious". Of the other expressions, the most curious is the word "aysa", in which one can see the fate that is subject to the will of man. This already sounds more optimistic: a person is powerless in front of Moira, but contrary to Aisa, a person acts more arbitrarily, obeying pride or passion, and these actions cannot be considered inevitable. In this sense, some of Homer's verses can be understood, for example, in the famous scene of Hector's farewell to Andromache, in which Hector says literally: “Despite Aisa, no one will send me to Hades; but, I think, no person, neither great nor low, will escape Moira, since he was born into the world. However, in many translations of Homer into modern languages(including in Russian) the difference between M. and Aisa is erased, and both expressions are translated by the same word "fate".

The Greeks imagined Moira as serious old women. Clotho was usually depicted with a spindle in her hand, Lachesis - with a measure or scales, Atropos - with a book of life, a sundial or scissors, with which she cut the thread of life. There are few antique images of Moirs. The most prominent of these was on the east pediment of the Parthenon (was created by Phidias, or at least his students), but was taken to England in the last century and is now in the British Museum (see also "").

The expression “thread of life” is known: “... And for the time being, the thread of life / The old thread is spinning there ...” - A.C. Pushkin, "Experience"

(1814). The image of Moira is found in literature: “[Gogol] fell the last victim of that tragic moira that weighed heavily ... over Russian poets” - Ap. Grigoriev, Ostrovsky's Comedy.

The future has always fascinated humanity, but it has also always been a frightening one. It is not known what is there - beyond the horizon of today. No wonder the wise biblical king Solomon said: “He who increases knowledge, increases sorrow.” Well, ancient philosophers were sure that "the veil of the future is the best gift of fate." And it is worth emphasizing: the prediction of fate is a special gift that even the great gods do not possess.

Yes, yes, already the ancient Greeks understood that the future is not subject even to the powers of the gods. But where does it come from? Antique myths give a very confused and complex answer to this. Let's try to figure it out. The pattern of the future consists of the threads of all included in it - both people and gods. Threads are created, weaved, intertwined with others by the blind spins of fate. The ancient Greeks called them moiras (moira is Greek for “share”, “part”, hence the fate), and the ancient Romans called them parks. That is, one can immediately notice: the ancient world understood that each person is only a part of the general in which he receives his fate.

In the early ideas of the Greeks, each person had his own moira: she spun the thread of a special fate. However, developing their religion, the Greeks realized: there are only three moira, and they weave a common pattern from single threads. The first moira was called Cloto (which means “spinning”), she spun the thread of life from what fell into her fingers (recall, she was blind and therefore could not choose). The second - Lachesis ("giving lots") - led the thread through the vicissitudes of fate (again - without looking), pulled in different directions, intertwined with the threads of other people, weaving into a common pattern of destinies. The third - Anthropos ("inevitable") - was also blind and therefore cut the yarn at random, tearing the threads of fate and breaking human life. From this it is clear that it is impossible to ask the blind spinners to improve their fate, neither exhortations, nor prayers, nor generous gifts will help. Old women are blind and act without seeing anything. That is, nothing can be changed, you can only "eavesdrop on fate", as the Greeks said, "by the rustle and tension of the thread." This is exactly how predictions occurred according to the ancient Greeks, it was on the rustle of fate that the prophets were guided.

But where did the ancient spins themselves come from? Maybe if you understand their origin, it will become clearer how and what you can negotiate with them? According to the original version, moira - the goddess of fate - the daughter of the god Erebus and the goddess Nikta. Actually, these are not even gods, but the personification of the inevitable forces of cosmic nature: Erebus is eternal darkness, descended from primeval Chaos. Nikta (otherwise - Nyx) - the eternal night, which also appeared from Chaos. Having united, this couple produced, in addition to moira, also Thanatos (the incorruptible god of death), his twin brother Hypnos (the god of sleep, from whom no one can pay off anything), Eris (the goddess of discord), Moma (the god of slander), Nemesis (goddess of revenge). Nice family, right? The following follows from the list of these relatives: firstly, they all personify the forces associated with life and death; secondly, everyone is incorruptible fanatics of their “cause” and it is impossible to agree with them.

However, there is a second, later version of the origin of moira: they are no longer the daughters of the ancient darkness-Erebus, but supreme god Zeus, already much more humane and fair, and his beloved Ananke. But who is this lady? She is the daughter of Chronos, the god of time. Her very name means "rock", "inevitability", Ananke is the goddess of necessity, inevitability. AT Ancient Rome Ananke was personified with the goddess Necessitata, who also acted as a coercive force for the individual for the public good. True, only philosophers talked about the public good. And the common people associated Ananka (Neccessitatu) with the inevitable approach of death. It was believed that it was she who held the spindle between her knees, personifying the axis of the world. Well, her Moira daughters (parkas) wind threads from this spindle for their work. Hence the conclusion: the threads of fate are taken not from anywhere, but from a spindle, whose rotation is consonant with the rotation of the Earth, however, alas, the same spindle is initially held by the goddess of inevitable death. Not very reassuring, right?

But maybe the third version of the origin of moira is softer? It says: Moira are the daughters of the god Zeus, who, by the way, is also the god who gave laws to people, and the goddess Themis. Well, she is known to everyone: it is she who is the goddess of justice with scales and a cornucopia in her hands. However, everyone knows something else: poor Themis is also practically blind - she has a bandage on her eyes, which should symbolize impartiality, but in fact prevents Themis from seeing the truth and lies. Perhaps, from this very impartiality, her daughters, moira-parks, were born blind? ..

Well, what can I say? From which side you approach, you will not affect the inevitable, incorruptible, and even blind spins. Of course, there is a clear improvement in their pedigree: from the granddaughters of Chaos, the daughters of darkness and inevitable fate, the fate-bearing Moira become the daughters of Zeus the lawyer and Themis, the goddess of justice. That is, there is still hope that the goddesses of fate will be able to spin the thread, guide it through the pattern of life and even cut it off in justice, according to the law. But do the blind moira parkas know about justice?

However, we, sinners, are participants in the process. So, maybe, guided by these laws, we will be able to make our lives at least a little better? As the ancient Romans used to say, "lengthen the skein of thread and decorate the yarn of fate." That's pretty good too.

It binds two souls that should be together, regardless of time, place or circumstance.

Nothing and no one can break this invisible thread between two people who are made for each other.

Sooner or later they will unite and be together.

Red thread between people

1. Red color

Japanese legend of the red thread

A longer version of this story is based on a Japanese folk legend, which in turn originated from a Chinese proverb legend.

The legend says: every man and every woman is born with a red thread tied to the little finger of the left hand. This thread binds people together (the original Chinese version says that the ankles of lovers are tied with threads).

She forever connects two kindred souls, two lovers. Both people, connected by the red thread of fate, are sooner or later doomed to be together.

And neither distance, nor age, nor social status, nor any other factors will interfere with this.

One way or another, sooner or later, two souls will unite forever.

This thread is not visible, and sometimes fate weaves strange twists and turns that can create difficulties and obstacles for two people destined for each other.

But every tangle that will be unraveled, every knot that will be untangled, will become another step towards overcoming obstacles to let the reunion of kindred souls.

The legend of the red thread

During the Tang Dynasty (r. 618 to 907 AD), there was a young man named Wei whose parents died when he was very young.

The boy grew up and wanted to get married, but, unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried, he could not find a suitable wife for himself.

And then one day, in search of a bride, he came to a strange city. One of the local residents, having heard the story of the guy, told him that the daughter of the governor of the city would be an excellent match for him.

The man invited the guy to meet with the girl's father and discuss all the details with him. Then they decided to meet again at dawn at the local temple in order to go to the governor.

Excited, Wei came to the temple before dawn, when the sky was shining brightly. full moon. On the steps of the temple, with his back against the railing, sat an old man, reading a book in the moonlight.

Wei looked over the old man's shoulder curiously, but did not understand a single word written in the book. The language was unknown to the guy.

Intrigued, he asked the old man what kind of book it was and what language it was written in. The old man replied with a smile that this book was from the other world.

Before answering, the old man looked around, then said: I am entrusted with the care of human destinies, as regards matters of marriage and love.

Then Wei opened his heart: "I am alone in this world and have been looking for a girl for a long time to start a family.

For ten years I have not been able to find a bride. Now I hope to marry the governor's daughter.

Looking at the book, the old man replied: “No. This is not your man. Now your future wife is only three years old. When she turns seventeen, you will marry her.

Wei did not like the elder's words and asked him if it was possible to somehow change the fate.

And the old man said:

"A red thread binds the ankles of husband and wife. No one can see it, but once tied with it, you will never be separated again.

You are bound by it at birth. And nothing can separate you: neither distance, nor religion, nor social status. Sooner or later you will become husband and wife.

And nothing can be done about it. This invisible red thread cannot be cut or broken. She bound you together forever."