The Goddess of Necessity, Themis, brought forth three lovely daughters, known as the Moirai (Fates). All living things must eventually submit to these divine daughters of Zeus and Themis. Their names are: CLOTHO, LACHESIS, and ATROPOS.
Clotho spins the thread of life, Lachesis determines the length of the thread and Atropos cuts the thread when the proper time has come for death. They are also called the Moirai to denote their descent from Moira, the original goddess of Fate. They are not to be confused with the Furies, who are the daughters of Nyx (Night). They laugh at our feeble attempts to cheat them because they always prevail. They are also known as the Moiras or Keras.
THE GRACES (KHARITES) Daughters of Zeus
The Graces are the beautiful daughters of Zeus and Eurynome.
The attendance of the Graces, AGLAIA (Splendor), EUPHROSYNE (Festivity or Mirth), and THALIA (Rejoicing or Good Cheer), was the assurance of peace and happiness.
They wove the material for Aphrodite’s robe. They also tended to Aphrodite when she returned to the island of Cyprus, humiliated after she had been caught in the trap her husband, Hephaestus, had set to catch her and Ares in the embrace of love. The Graces bathed her, anointed her with ambrosial oil and dressed her in delightful clothing so that she might resume her loving duties.
THE MUSES (MOUSAI) Daughters of Wit and Charm
The Muses or Mousai are the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (sister of Hyperion and Rheia). They are often referred to as Heliconian and Pierian, to mark the seats of their earliest worship (Pieria, near Olympos and Mount Helicon in Boeotia).
Clio, muse of history Euterpe, muse of lyric poetry Thalia, muse of comedy Melpomene, muse of tragedy Terpsichore, muse of dance Erato, muse of love poems Polyhymnia, muse of sacred music or songs to the gods Urania, muse of astrology Calliope, epic poetry (she holds the highest rank of the Muses)
Calliope attends the birth of kingly nobles and gives (or withholds) the gift of the Muses as the immortals deem fit. Mere mortals who are blessed by the Muses, can use the beauty of their song, or the grace of their dance to heal the sick and comfort the heartbroken.
One story says that a singer and poet named Thamyris challenged the Muses. He mocked them and made light of their skills. For his insolence, Thamyris was maimed and lost his memory. He could no longer remember his songs or his poems. The Muses can bestow the gift of talent and insight but they can also, viciously, revoke their blessings. King Pierus boasted that his daughters rivaled the Muses in beauty and talent, they (all nine of his daughters) were turned into magpies.
The Muses attend the festivals on Olympus and entertain and inspire the other gods with their wit and charm. Apollo puts aside his bow and plays the lyre as the Graces join in the dance of the immortals.
THE FURIES (ERINYES) The Mist-Walking
Originally called Erinys... later called, Erinyes. Referred to as, ‘the mist-walking... ’ and, with fear and respect, ‘the kindly one’. She would harass and injure her prey but not kill them. Homer refers to her in the singular but, much later, Euripides used the number ‘three’ and eventually ‘they’ assumed the names: TISIPHONE, MEGAERA and ALECTO. Their brass wings made escape impossible, their ripping claws made their torment relentless and horrible.
THE GORGONS The Gorgons
The Gorgons are three sisters, daughters of ancient, pre-titan gods, Phorkys and Keto (Ceto). The sisters STHENNO and EURYALE were immortal but the third, MEDUSA, was mortal. All three were so hideous, the shock of seeing them would turn anyone to stone. Medusa is called The Gorgon or simply, Gorgon.
THE GRAIAE The Graeć were three sisters who lived in the Western extreme of the ocean. Their names were Deino, Pephredo, and Enyo, which mean "alarm," "dread," and "horror." They were the daughters of Phorkys and Keto . The Graea shared one eye and one tooth among ne another and were believed to be hideous looking creatures. They dwelt near the entrance to the Underworld, and were the gaurdians of the Gorgons. They protected the nymphs, who protected Hades' invisible helmet and a pair of winged sandals belonging to Hermes. They also oversaw the safety of the shield of Athena.
One of the most famous known encounters with the Graeć is the story of Perseus. Perseus snatched the Graea's only eye and said that he would not return the eye until they told him where the Gorgon's lived. In desperation the Graea told Perseus where they lived, which further led him to finding Hades invisible helmet and winged shoes. From there Perseus was able to destroy Medusa because of his invisibility and his ability to fly.
