However, beginning with the poet Hesiod (8th century BC), the Fates were personified as three extremely elderly ladies who wove the threads of human destiny. Clotho (weaver), Lachesis (allotter), and Atropos were their names (inflexible). They passed judgment on humans by cutting the thread of life for them so that they would live or die. Hesiod's work The Works and Days was probably the most famous ancient account of the Fates still in use today. He described how Clotho weaves the lives of humans, while Lachesis decides how long they will live and Atropos cuts their threads when they reach the end of their time. In some versions of this story, humans have the power to influence the Fates by praying to them. If they are so inclined, the Fates may grant requests such as "May your child be healthy" or "Enjoy your old age". However, no one can ask for something beyond what is natural for a person to receive, such as "Don't die before you get old". The idea of the Fates has been popular throughout history. In Ancient Greece, people believed that each fate was controlled by a god or goddess. They also thought that if someone wanted to change their fortune, they could pray to the gods for help.