The Story of Clotho
Clotho was one of the three Fates, or Moirai, the goddesses who controlled human destiny. Hesiod names the Fates as daughters of Nyx, the night, but in another passage he calls them daughters of Zeus and Themis. Her sisters were Lachesis and Atropos.
Clotho's name means the spinner. She spun the thread of each person's life at birth, marking the moment every mortal came into the world. Her sister Lachesis then measured the thread, and Atropos cut it when life came to an end.
Clotho appears in the story of Pelops. When his father Tantalus cut him up and served him to the gods as a test, the gods restored him to life, and the poet Pindar says Pelops was lifted out of the cauldron by Clotho. The gods then punished Tantalus in the Underworld.
The Fates also appeared at the birth of the hero Meleager. When he was a week old, they told his mother that he would live only as long as a log burning in the hearth. She snatched it from the fire and hid it, until years later she burned it in anger and his life ended.
Even the gods were said to respect the decisions of the Fates. Clotho was often shown as a young woman holding a spindle. The Romans called her Nona.
Famous Myths About Clotho
The Life of Meleager
When Meleager was a week old, the Fates appeared to his mother and told her that he would live only as long as a log burning in the hearth. She snatched it from the fire and hid it, until years later she burned it in anger and his life ended.
Apollo's Trick
Apollo wanted to save his friend King Admetus from an early death, so he got the Fates drunk on wine. While under its influence, they agreed that Admetus could live if someone else died in his place.
Clotho's Family Tree
Partners of Clotho
Children of Clotho
Frequently Asked Questions About Clotho
Who is Clotho in Greek mythology?
Clotho is one of the three Fates, or Moirai. She spins the thread of each person's life at birth.
Who are Clotho's parents?
Hesiod names the Fates as daughters of Nyx, but he also calls them daughters of Zeus and Themis.
Who are Clotho's sisters?
Clotho's sisters are Lachesis, who measures the thread of life, and Atropos, who cuts it.
What is Clotho's Roman name?
The Romans called Clotho Nona, one of their three Fates, the Parcae.
