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In Greek mythology, the Moirai or Moerae or (, "apportioners"), often known in English as the Fates ((ラテン語:Fatae)), were the white-robed incarnations of destiny; their Roman equivalent was the Parcae (euphemistically the "sparing ones"). Their number became fixed at three: Clotho (spinner), Lachesis (allotter) and Atropos (unturnable). They controlled the mother thread of lifestyle of every mortal from birth to death. They were independent, at the helm of necessity, directed fate, and watched that the fate assigned to every being by eternal laws might take its course without obstruction. The gods and men had to submit to them, although Zeus's relationship with them is a matter of debate: some sources say he is the only one who can command them (the ''Zeus Moiragetes''), yet others suggest he was also bound to the Moirai's dictates. In the Homeric poems Moira or Aisa, is related with the limit and end of life, and Zeus appears as the guider of destiny. In the ''Theogony'' of Hesiod, the three Moirai are personified, and are acting over the gods.〔Hesiod, ''Theogony'' 221–225. "Also Night (Nyx) bare the destinies (Moirai), and ruthless avenging Fates (Keres), who give men at their birth both evil and good to have, and they pursue the transgressions of men and gods... until they punish the sinner with a sore penalty." (online ''The Theogony of Hesiod. Transl. Hugh Evelyn White'' (1914) 221–225 ).〕 Later they are daughters of Zeus and Themis, who was the embodiment of divine order and law. In Plato's ''Republic'' the Three Fates are daughters of Ananke (necessity).〔''Plato, Republic 617c (trans. Shorey) (Greek philosopher 4th century BC)'': (Theoi Project – Ananke ).〕 It seems that Moira is related with Tekmor (proof, ordinance) and with Ananke (destiny, necessity), who were primeval goddesses in mythical cosmogonies. The ancient Greek writers might call this power Moira or Ananke, and even the gods could not alter what was ordained.〔Aeschylus, ''Prometheus Bound'', 510–518: "Not in this way is Moira (Fate) who brings all to fulfillment, destined to complete this course. Skill is weaker far than Ananke (necessity). Yes in that even he (Zeus) cannot escape what is foretold." (Theoi Project – Ananke )〕 The concept of a universal principle of natural order has been compared to similar concepts in other cultures like the Vedic Rta, the Avestan Asha (Arta) and the Egyptian Maat. In earliest Greek philosophy, the cosmogony of Anaximander is based on these mythical beliefs. The goddess Dike (justice, divine retribution), keeps the order and sets a limit to any actions.〔Simplicius, ''In Physica'' 24.13. The Greek peers of Anaximander echoed his sentiment with the belief in natural boundaries beyond which not even the gods could operate: Bertrand Russell (1946). ''A history of Western Philosophy, and its connections with Political and Social Circumstances from the earliest times to the Present Day''. New York. Simon and Schuster p. 148.〕 ==Etymology== The Ancient Greek word moira (μοῖρα) means a portion or lot of the whole, and is related to ''meros'', "part, lot" and ''moros'', "fate, doom",〔(Moira ), Online Etymology Dictionary〕 Latin ''meritum'', "desert, reward", English ''merit'', derived from the PIE root '' *(s)mer'', "to allot, assign".〔(merit ), Online Etymology Dictionary〕 Moira may mean portion or share in the distribution of booty (ίση μοῖρα ''ísē moîra'' "equal booty"),〔Iliad, 9.318:(''Lidell,Scott A Greek English Lexicon'': μοῖρα ),〕 portion in life, lot, destiny, (μοῖραv ἔθηκαν ἀθάνατοι ''moîran éthēken athánatoi'' "the immortals fixed the destiny")〔''Odyssey'' 19.152: :(''Lidell,Scott A Greek English Lexicon'': μοῖρα )〕 death (μοῖρα θανάτοιο ''moîra thanátoio'' "destiny of death"), portion of the distributed land.,〔The citizents of Sparta were called ''omoioi'' (equals), indicating that they had equal parts ("isomoiria" ἰσομοιρία) of the allotted land〕 The word is also used for something which is meet and right (κατὰ μοῖραν, ''katà moîran'', "according to fate, in order, rightly")〔Iliad 16.367: :(''Lidell,Scott A Greek English Lexicon'': μοῖρα )〕 It seems that originally the word moira did not indicate destiny but included ''ascertainment'' or ''proof''. The word daemon, which was an agent related to unexpected events, came to be similar to the word moira.〔M.Nillson, Vol I, p.217〕 This agent or cause against human control might be also called tyche (chance, fate): "You mistress moira, and tyche, and my daemon "〔Euripides, ''Iph.Aul. V 113'': " ΄'ω πότνια μοίρα καί τύχη, δαίμων τ΄εμός "(''Lidell,Scott A Greek English Lexicon'': τύχη ).〕 The word ''nomos'', "law", may have meant originally a portion or lot, as in the verb ''nemein'', "to distribute", and thus "natural lot" came to mean "natural law".〔L.H.Jeffery (1976) ''Archaic Greece. The City-States c. 700–500 BC ''. Ernest Benn Ltd. London & Tonbridge p. 42 ISBN 0-510-03271-0〕 The word ''dike'', "justice", conveyed the notion that someone should stay within his own specified boundaries, respecting the ones of his neighbour. If someone broke his boundaries, thus getting more than his ordained part, then he would be punished by law. By extension, ''moira'' was one's portion or part in destiny which consisted of good and bad moments as was predetermined by the ''Moirai'' (Fates), and it was impossible for anyone to get more than his ordained part. In modern Greek the word came to mean "destiny" (μοίρα or ειμαρμένη). Kismet, the predetermined course of events in the Muslim traditions, seems to have a similar etymology and function: Arabic ''qisma.t'' "lot" <''qasama'', "to divide, allot" developed to mean Fate or destiny. As a loanword, ''qesmat'' 'fate' appears in Persian, whence in Urdu language, and eventually in English Kismet. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Moirai」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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