Decima (mythology)

This article is about the Roman goddess. For other uses, see Decima.

Decima was one of the three Parcae (known in English as the Fates) in Roman mythology.^[1] The Parcae goddess Nona was responsible for pregnancy; Decima was responsible for measuring a person's lifespan; and Morta was charged with overseeing death.^[2] They distributed to mankind all the good and bad things in life,^[3] and according to some classical writings even Jupiter had to bend to their will.^[4] Decima measured the thread of life with her rod,^[5] like her Greek equivalent Lachesis.^[4] In some accounts, her mother was Nox the goddess of night and her father was Scotus the god of darkness; while in other accounts, her parents were Jupiter and Themis.^[3]

Decima on the right measuring the thread of life near the other Parcae

See also

• Moirai
• Norns