Laurie Andropolis, age 16, of Gadsden. Ala., for her question:

WHAT ARE THE THREE FATES?

The Fates are three goddesses who ruled the lives of men. According to Greek and Roman mythology, the three Fates spun and cut the thread of life.

The Fates were called Parcae among the Romans and Moirai among the Greeks.

The three Fates were named Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos. Clotho was the spinner of the thread of life. Lachesis decided how long the thread of life was to be. And Atropos cut the thread.

The Fates were stern and gloomy goddesses. Nothing could make them change their minds. Men offered them gifts to escape death, but never to thank them for any kind of blessings.

Ancient artists represented Clotho as holding the spindle of thread. Lachesis carries rods which she shakes to decide the fate of man. Atropos has a tablet in her hand on which she writes the decision.

Norns were the three Fates of Scandinavian mythology. They were three sisters: Past, Present and Future. Past was old and looked toward the past. Present faced straight ahead into the present while Future looked in a direction opposite from that of Past. The fate of men and gods was decided by the Norns.