In
ancient Greek religion,
Ananke , also spelled
Anangke,
Anance, or
Anagke (, from the common noun , "force, constraint, necessity"), was the personification of inevitability, compulsion and necessity, depicted as holding a
spindle. One of the
Protogenoi, Ananke marks the beginning of the
cosmos, along with her father and consort,
Chronos (Chronos protogenos — not the titan Cronus). She was seen as the most powerful dictator of all fate and circumstance which meant that mortals, as well as the Gods, respected her and paid homage. Considered as the mother of
the Fates according to one version, she is the only one to have control over their decisions (except, according to some sources, also
Zeus).