In Greek mythology, which Moira measures the thread of life?

In Greek mythology, Lachesis is the Moira who measures the thread of life. She is the middle member of the three Moirai, or Fates, and determines how long each mortal life will last. Her name is connected with the idea of receiving or drawing a lot, reflecting the Fates’ role in assigning destinies.

The three sisters perform different parts of the life-thread image. Clotho spins the thread, Lachesis measures or allots its length, and Atropos cuts it when life ends. Lachesis is sometimes shown using a measuring rod, emphasizing that her task is to assign a lifespan and, in some traditions, help determine a person’s destiny.

Ancient sources do not always agree about the Fates’ parentage. Hesiod gives one genealogy in the Theogony, while another passage names Zeus and Themis as their parents. The Roman equivalent of Lachesis was Decima. She is often confused with Clotho, the spinner, or Atropos, the cutter, but measuring belongs specifically to Lachesis.