Editing Moirai (section)

==Cult and temples==
[[File:Schadow Grabmal Alexander 2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|''The three Moirai'', relief, grave of {{Interlanguage link|Alexander von der Mark|de}} by [[Johann Gottfried Schadow]] ([[Alte Nationalgalerie|Old National Gallery]], [[Berlin]])]]

The fates had at least three known temples, in [[Ancient Corinth]], Sparta and [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]]. At least the temple of Corinth contained statues of them: 
:"[On the Akropolis (Acropolis) of Korinthos (Corinth):] The temple of the Moirai (Moirae, Fates) and that of Demeter and Kore (Core) [Persephone] have images that are not exposed to view."<ref>Pausanias, 2.4.7</ref>

The temple in Thebes was explicitly imageless:
:"Along the road from the Neistan gate [at Thebes in Boiotia (Boeotia)] are three sanctuaries. There is a sanctuary of Themis, with an image of white marble; adjoining it is a sanctuary of the Moirai (Moirae, Fates), while the third is of Agoraios (Agoreus, of the Market) Zeus. Zeus is made of stone; the Moirai (Moirae, Fates) have no images."<ref>Pausanias, 9.25.4</ref>

The temple in Sparta was situated next to the grave of [[Orestes]].<ref>Pausanias, 3.11.10</ref>

Aside from actual temples, there was also altars to the Moirai. Among them was notably the altar in Olympia near the altar of Zeus Moiragetes,<ref name="Pausanias, 5.15.5"/> a connection to Zeus which was also repeated in the images of the Moirai in the temple of Despoine in Arkadia<ref>Pausanias, 8.37.1</ref> as well as in Delphi, where they were depicted with Zeus Moiragetes (Guide of Fate) as well as with Apollon Moiragetes (Guide of Fate).<ref>Pausanias, 10.24.4</ref> On Korkyra, the shrine of Apollo, which according to legend was founded by Medea was also a place where offerings were made to the Moirai and the nymphs.<ref>Apollonius Rhodius, ''Argonautica'' 4.1216 ff. (trans. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.)</ref> The worship of the Moirai are described by Pausanias for their altar near Sicyon: 
:"On the direct road from Sikyon (Sicyon) to Phlios (Phlius) ... At a distance along it, in my opinion, of twenty stades, to the left on the other side of the Asopos [river], is a grove of holm oaks and a temple of the goddesses named by the Athenians the Semnai (August), and by the Sikyonians the Eumenides (Kindly Ones). On one day in each year they celebrate a festival to them and offer sheep big with young as a burnt offering, and they are accustomed to use a libation of honey and water, and flowers instead of garlands. They practise similar rites at the altar of the Moirai (Moirae, Fates); it is in an open space in the grove."<ref>Pausanias, 2.11.3-4</ref>