Looming over the lives of gods and mortals alike, fate was more than a concept, it was an inscrutable force, a celestial decree woven by unseen hands. Dictating the unfolding of destinies, the gods and goddesses of fate were equally feared and venerated. Their omnipotence held the power to shape every moment and movement, casting grandeur or doom over the lives they touched. They commanded the course of existence, intertwining human struggles and triumphs with the grand design. Fate was inevitable, an absolute and untouchable force found in every ancient civilization.   Divine Law and the Tablet of Destiny: Mesopotamia In ancient Mesopotamian societies, fate and death were inseparable; those who determined fate most often ruled in the underworld. The Akkadian Mamitu, mother of fate and goddess of destiny, found her home amongst the dead, deciding the fate of mortals at her own, fickle will. There would be no turning back, her verdicts were eternally irrevocable. The goddess and proper ruler of the underworld was Ereshkigal, sister to Ishtar, goddess of love, war, and fertility. Ereshkgial’s loyal admirer, Namtar, was a demonic god and Herald of Death. He determined the fates of those in passing and was a messenger to the gods, carrying news from the underworld to the divine realm. Read moreSection: NewsGeneralReligionsFolkloreMyths & LegendsEuropeAsiaHistoryPremiumPreviewRead Later