Missing Moirae? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

AbercrombieOfRohan · 05-17-2005, 06:09 PM

I have been researching Greek mythology of late, especially the use of fate among the ancients. From my limited research it also seems that the vast majority of deities that control fate are women. In Greek mythology they had the Moirae, the three fates who controlled everyone's destiny, including the Gods and Moira the supreme controller of fate. Also in Slavic mythology, they had the Rodyanitse, deities very similar in purpose and stature to the Moirae. But it seems that every culture had it's own way of dealing with the phenomenon of fate.

So this made me think back to Tolkien (of course), and as far as I can tell the only sort of deity who controls fate is Namo who "forgets nothing; and he knows all things that shall be, save only those that lie in the freedom of Iluvatar." (Silmarillion) But he isn't a woman, and I can't for the life of me think of any time in Tolkien that he uses a woman to supervise fate, with the possible exception of Luthien. Can you help me?

Also, since that is a very limited topic of discussion, do you think Tolkien believed in fate? As a scholar in mythology, do you think they (ancients such as Homer and Virgil) and classic literature influenced this absence of Lady Luck?

Mods, I wasn't sure whether this ought to go into the Novices and Newcomers forum or the books, so I took a stab in the dark. Please move it if necessary.

05-17-2005, 06:09 PM	#1
AbercrombieOfRohan Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 311	Missing Moirae? I have been researching Greek mythology of late, especially the use of fate among the ancients. From my limited research it also seems that the vast majority of deities that control fate are women. In Greek mythology they had the Moirae, the three fates who controlled everyone's destiny, including the Gods and Moira the supreme controller of fate. Also in Slavic mythology, they had the Rodyanitse, deities very similar in purpose and stature to the Moirae. But it seems that every culture had it's own way of dealing with the phenomenon of fate. So this made me think back to Tolkien (of course), and as far as I can tell the only sort of deity who controls fate is Namo who "forgets nothing; and he knows all things that shall be, save only those that lie in the freedom of Iluvatar." (Silmarillion) But he isn't a woman, and I can't for the life of me think of any time in Tolkien that he uses a woman to supervise fate, with the possible exception of Luthien. Can you help me? Also, since that is a very limited topic of discussion, do you think Tolkien believed in fate? As a scholar in mythology, do you think they (ancients such as Homer and Virgil) and classic literature influenced this absence of Lady Luck? Mods, I wasn't sure whether this ought to go into the Novices and Newcomers forum or the books, so I took a stab in the dark. Please move it if necessary.