What is "decima"

n. (context Roman god English) One of the three Fates, or Parcae, daughter of Jupiter and Justitia; the measurer of the thread of life. She is the Roman equivalent of Lachesis.

Decima can refer to:

• Decima (mythology), a goddess in Roman mythology and one of the Parcae (Fates)
• Décima, a type of poetic form with roots in Spanish literature
• Decima Research, a Canadian polling company
• Decima gallery, a London-based arts organisation
• The Latinized name of Deshima island off the Japanese coast, where a Dutch trading establishment was located during the empire's isolation
• A villainous organization on the CBS television series Person of Interest.
• An obsolete unit of length, proposed by Gabriel Mouton.

A décima refers to a ten-line stanza of poetry, and the song form generally consists of forty-four lines (an introductory four-verse stanza followed by four ten-line stanzas). It is also called "espinela," after its founder, Vicente Espinel (1550–1624), a Spanish writer and musician of the Siglo de Oro.

The décima deals with a wide range of subject matter, including themes that are philosophical, religious, lyrical, and political. Humorous décimas typically would satirize an individual's weakness or foolish act. A decimero would frequently challenge the target of the satire or his/her defender to respond in kind with a décima, thereby setting up a song duel that tested the originality and wit of contending composers.

In Roman mythology, Decima was one of the Parcae, or the Fates. She measured the thread of life with her rod. She was also revered as the goddess of childbirth. Her Greek equivalent was Lachesis.

Category:Roman goddesses Category:Time and fate goddesses Category:Textiles in mythology and folklore