Three wretched sisters,
Crones share single eye and tooth,
Snatched by Perseus.
Supernaturally old, grey and grim from the day of their birth, the Graiai (or Graeae) are the dreaded three ugly sisters of Greek mythology who make their appearance in the legend of Perseus. Toothless and blind, the Graiai (named Deino, Enyo and Pemphredo - 'Dread', 'Horror' and 'Alarm' respectively) share a single eyeball and a single tooth that they pass between themselves. In the myth, Perseus passes by the cave of the crones and forces them to reveal the whereabouts of Medusa and the Gorgons by snatching the eye and the tooth, holding the helpless old hags to ransom. The three have no choice but to give up their sister Gorgons (it's a pretty ugly family. When beastly primordial sea gods mate, expect a spawn of monstrous offspring) thus suffering more misery and woe. Forever old, decrepit and disabled, the Graiai are a tragic trio that - even though they are the original, archetypal three witches - deserve some sympathy. At least Perseus gave them their eye and tooth back...
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