PARCJE, fiar'-cce, or Pita, called Mainw by the Greeks, the three Fates, catho, Atropos, presided over all events, and were superior to even Jupiter. They were repre sented as lame, aged women or grave maidens. The youngest, Clotho, who presided over the moment of birth, holding a spindle (or a roll); Lachesis spinning (or pointing with a staff to the globe); and the eldest, cutting the thread of life (or with a pair of scales, or a sundial). Clotho usually wore a variegated robe and a crown of seven stars, Lachesis a star-embroidered robe, and Atropos a black robe.
OrALEXANDER, second son of King Priam of Troy and Heciiha, was exposed at his birth on Mount Ida, his mother having dreamed that she had born a torch that consumed all Troy ; but he was saved and reared by shepherds, and early gave proof of such courage that he was named Alexander (men-defender). He married (EnOne (q.v.). At the nuptials of Peleus and Thetis, Discordia (q.v.) flung in among the guests the golden Apple of Discord, with the inscription, For the fairest. It was claimed by Juno, Minerva, and Venus. Paris, from his rising fame for prudence, was chosen umpire between the three goddesses, who were to appear before him nude and without ornament. 'They each tried to influence him—Juno by offering him Asia for a kingdom, Minerva military glory, and Venus the greatest beauty for a wife. The golden apple was awarded to
Venus by The Yudgment of Paris, and Juno and Minerva became the deadly foes of Paris and his family. Soon after, Priam proposed, as a reward for a contest among his sons and other princes, one of the finest bulls of Mount Ida. It was found in the possession of Paris, who was at first reluctant to give it up, and after wards went to Troy to contend for it. He vanquished Nestor, Cycnus, Polites, Helenus, and Deiphtibus, but had to flee before his brother Hector to the temple of Jupiter, where [ the family likeness in his features was recog nized by his sister Cassandra, and he was acknowledged by Priam as his second son. Paris soon after sailed ostensibly to bring back , his aunt HesiOne, whom Hercules had given in marriage to YEacus's son Telamon, but he pro ceeded to Menelaus's home at Sparta, where he was well received ; but while the king was absent in Crete he basely persuaded his wife Helena (q.v.) to elope with him. All Greece, tinder Agamemnon, proceeded for this injury against Troy. (See TteojA.) In the war Paris displayed little courage, and was saved in a combat with Menelaus by Venus ; but accord ing to some, he was the slayer of Achilles. For his death see CENONE.