The fatia (
Albanian
Albanian may refer to:
*Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular:
**Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans
**Albanian language
**Albanian culture
**Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...
''fatí'',
definite form: ''fatía'',
pl.: ''fatí/të'';
English: ''fate'') is an
Albanian
Albanian may refer to:
*Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular:
**Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans
**Albanian language
**Albanian culture
**Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...
mythological figure associated with human
destiny
Destiny, sometimes also called fate (), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual.
Fate
Although often used interchangeably, the words ''fate'' and ''destiny'' ...
. Often depicted as three female
deities
A deity or god is a supernatural being considered to be sacred and worthy of worship due to having authority over some aspect of the universe and/or life. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines ''deity'' as a God (male deity), god or god ...
, the essential function of the fatí is to maintain the order of the universe and to enforce its laws.
Along with the
mira
Mira (), designation Omicron Ceti (ο Ceti, abbreviated Omicron Cet, ο Cet), is a red-giant star estimated to be 200–300 light-years from the Sun in the constellation Cetus.
ο Ceti is a binary stellar system, consisting of a vari ...
, they can be found in the folk beliefs of
Tosk Albanians
Tosk ( sq-definite, toskërishtja) is the southern group of dialects of the Albanian language, spoken by the ethnographic group known as Tosks. The line of demarcation between Tosk and Gheg (the northern variety) is the Shkumbin River. Tosk is ...
. Albanian mythological figures related to fate and destiny can also be found in the folk beliefs of
Gheg Albanians with the name of
ora and
zana.
Appearance
The fatí are visualized as riding on
butterflies
Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterized by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossi ...
. On the third day after a child has been born, three Fatits approach the baby's cradle and determine that child's fate. They are also known as ''Miren'', possibly from the Greek ''
Moirai
In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, the Moirai ()often known in English as the Fateswere the personifications of fate, destiny. They were three sisters: Clotho (the spinner), Lachesis (mythology), Lachesis (the allotter ...
''.
See also
*
Ora
*
Bardha
*
Zana e malit
Zana (''Zanë'' in Gheg or ''Zërë'' in Tosk, pl. ''zanë(t)'', see other variants below) is a nymph-like figure in Albanian mythology and folklore, usually associated with mountains, springs and streams, forests, vegetation and animals, hum ...
Sources
Citations
Bibliography
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Albanian paganism
Albanian mythology
Albanian legendary creatures
Destiny
Triple goddesses
Time and fate goddesses
{{Europe-myth-stub