The Thread of Life Held by the Moirai, or: Between Fate and Responsibility

The goddesses of fate, also called the Moirai, play a central role in Greek mythology. According to the ancient myths, these three goddesses spin the thread of life for each and every person. They determine not only the time of birth and death, but also the individual’s fate. In this way they are even more powerful than the other goddesses and gods of Olympus, like Zeus, Athena, or Poseidon. Today, the myth of the Moirai can serve as a starting point for exploring questions of who controls human life, the extent of human freedom and of individual responsibility. For this reason we have called this section of the exhibition “Between Fate and Responsibility.”