How did the Ancient Greeks feel about fate?

Answer 1

Although I do not know very much about the Greek view of fate, I can tell you that much of Roman ideas about fate were derived from the Greeks, and by doing a comparison of the two, you can get a good idea of how the Greeks felt about fate.

Greek and Roman cultures held very different beliefs concerning fate, the afterlife, and the purpose of literary works. Although the Greeks were the first to investigate their environments and develop theories concerning human nature and philosophy, Western Civilization seems to rely more on Roman variations of Greek beliefs. While Greek theories were very accurate and well studied, the theories were often short-lived and unrealistic when put into practice. Therefore, the Romans felt the need to take useless Greek philosophies and improve them so they could be utilized in everyday society. Greek principles were undoubtedly used as the basis for Roman theories, however, the Romans were able to improve on Greek ideas to create philosophies and practices that would last well into the twenty-first century.

Greek and Roman literature hold two very different concepts of fate. In Greek literature, such as The Iliad and The Odyssey, it is apparent that man has free will to make his own decisions, but he will ultimately succumb to the same fate he was destined for. Zeus’ will determines many points of a person’s fate, and many times he can be responsible for the events leading up to a person’s destiny, but he cannot completely change a person’s fate. One example of the Greek view of fate is the fall of Troy. The destiny of the great city is mentioned constantly throughout The Iliad. When Hector returns to Troy to see his wife and child, he tells Andromache, “For in my heart and soul I know this well: the day must come when sacred Troy must die, Priam must die and all his people with him” (6.530). Even Zeus is aware of Troy’s fate and in book fifteen, he tells Hera that once Patroclus is killed by Hector, Achilles will kill Hector and the Greeks will begin to win the war. Zeus also knows when, where, and how Troy is fated to fall, so he makes sure that no matter what events take place, the destiny of Troy is not changed. It is not Zeus’ job to decide fate, but to carry it out. This is quite obvious in book twenty when Zeus tells the other gods, “I fear he’ll raze the walls [of Troy] against the will of fate” (20.36). Zeus’ concern that Achilles’ rage would bring Troy down before its fated time proves that men have free will to make choices that can change their fate. In Greek literature, the gods merely are there to intervene and guide each man toward his fated end, rather than the end one has forged for himself through his actions.

In The Aeneid, the Roman gods do not carry out fate as often as they try to change it. Throughout the first several books of The Aeneid, the gods continually try to change fate. The most obvious case is each time Juno tries to throw Aeneas off course. Even though she knows she will ultimately not succeed in keeping Aeneas from destroying Carthage and settling in Italy, Juno still uses all of her resources to defy fate. In book VII Juno states,
But I, great wife of Jove—who left no thing undared, who tried all ways in wretchedness—am beaten by Aeneas. If my power is not enough, I shall not hesitate to plead for more, from anywhere; if I cannot bend High Ones, then I shall move hell. I cannot keep him from the Latin kingdoms: so be it, let Lavinia be his wife, as fates have fixed. But I can still hold off that moment and delay these great events, can still strike down the nations of both kings.
(Virgil 408-418)
Even though Juno knows that she will not be able stop Aeneas from marrying Lavinia or settling in Italy, she continues to try to defy fate.

While the Greeks believe that their free will can change their fate, the Romans believe that no matter what decisions a person makes, he will still succumb to the same fate he is predestined for. In Roman literature the gods are not used to guide people toward their fate; they are used to force people into making decisions that will fulfill their destiny. Although Aeneas is aware that his fate is to “Seek out [his] ancient mother. For there Aeneas’ house will rule all coasts, as will his son’ sons and those born of him,” he often needs help from the gods to continue making the correct decisions to fulfill his prophesy (Virgil III 128-130). While the Greeks feel that fate can be changed though free will, the Romans believe that fate can never be changed and that it is the responsibility of the gods to make sure each person meets his intended destiny.

While many Greek beliefs were complex and well thought out, they were not practical and many Romans were unable to accept such ideas. The Romans were able to take unrealistic Greek ideas and convert them into principles that typical Romans felt were more related to their lives. Surprisingly, the same principles that the Romans created from Greek philosophies to fit their lifestyles hundreds of years ago continue to be the basis of most belief systems in Western Civilization today.

Answer 2

Fate In Ancient Greece

Answer 3

According to Greek mythology, The Three Fates were in charge of deciding fate (which was a string). The Greeks viewed defying fate would be useless as it was already sewn.

Answer 4

They believed it was controlled by the fates; sisters who held the threads of life. Their names were Clotho who spuin the thread, Lachesis who determined the length, and Atropos who made the final snip (death). The names may not be spelled perfectly but those were the names of the fates. The Greeks beleived that every action you took in life, was woven into your thread by the sisters and you could not control it a bit.

Answer 5

Cronus is the Greek god of fate. The ancient greeks accepted it, as we must.

Answer 6

I guess the same way the people of Pompeii felt about volcanoes.

Answer 7

What kinda ? is this? but umm...I guess they were happy. since they knew it was fate and thats how they felt...

Answer 8

it was all in the hands of the gods