"But the great leveler, Death: not even the gods
can defend a man, not even one they love, that day
when fate takes hold and lays him out at last."
– Homer
The Odyssey, Book 3, lines 269-271. Athena says this in response to Telemachus’ speculations about the will of the gods. It is clear from what Athena says that once a man is fated to die, then even the gods with all their powers cannot alter that. This passage personifies both death and fate.