Themis

Themis from the Temple of Nemesis, Rhamnous, Attica, signed by the sculptor Chairestratos, c. 300 BCE.

For other uses, see Themis (disambiguation).

In Greek mythology, Hesiod mentions^[1] Themis (Greek: Θέμις) among the six sons and six daughters of Gaia and Uranus, that is, of Earth with Sky. Among these Titans of primordial myth, few were venerated at specific sanctuaries in classical times, and Themis was so ancient that the followers of Zeus claimed that it was with him she produced the Three Fates themselves^[2] A fragment of Pindar,^[3] however, tells that the Moerae were already present at the nuptials of Zeus and Themis, that in fact the Moerae rose with Themis from the springs of Okeanos the encircling World-Ocean and accompanied her up the bright sun-path to meet Zeus at Olympus.

Themis (meaning "law of nature" rather than human ordinance, literally "that which is put in place", from the verb τίθημι, títhēmi, to put), she "of good counsel" was the embodiment of divine order, law and custom. When Themis is disregarded, Nemesis brings just and wrathful retribution, thus Themis shared the Nemesion temple at Rhamnous (illustration below). Themis is not wrathful: she, "of the lovely cheeks", was the first to offer Hera a cup when she returned to Olympus distraught over threats from Zeus (Iliad xv.88). Themis presided over the proper relation between man and woman, the basis of the rightly ordered family (the family was seen as the pillar of the deme), and judges were often referred to as "themistopóloi" (the servants of Themis). Such was the basis for order upon Olympus too. Even Hera addressed her as "Lady Themis." The name of Themis might be substituted for Adrasteia in telling of the birth of Zeus on Crete. She built the Oracle at Delphi and was herself oracular. According to another legend, Themis received the Oracle at Delphi from Gaia and later gave it to Phoebe.

With Zeus she more certainly bore the Horae,^[4] those embodiments of the right moment — the rightness of Order unfolding in Time — and Astraea. Themis was there at Delos to witness the birth of Apollo. According to Ovid, it was Themis rather than Zeus who told Deucalion to throw the bones of his Mother over his shoulder to create a new race of mankind after the Deluge.

To these ancient Greeks she was originally the organizer of the "communal affairs of humans, particularly assemblies.^[5]" Her ability to foresee the future enabled her to become one of the Oracles of Delphi, which in turn led to her establishment as the goddess of divine justice. Some classical representations of Themis (illustration, right) did not show her blindfolded (because of her talent for prophecy, she had no need to be blinded) nor was she holding a sword (because she represented common consent, not coercion).

The first recorded appearance of Justice as a divine personage (Themis) occurred in Hesiod's Theogony where, drawing not only on the socio-religious consciousness of his time but also on many of the earlier cult-religions, he described the forces of the universe as cosmic divinities. Hesiod portrayed Dike as the daughter of Zeus and Themis (daughter of Uranus and Gaia). Dike executed the law of judgments and sentencing and, together with her mother Themis, carried out the final decisions of Moira. For Hesiod, Justice is at the center of religious and moral life, who independently of Zeus, is the embodiment of divine will. It is important to note that in Hesiod, Moira, Themis and Dike are the divine descendants of the Great Mother-Goddess. This personification of Dike will stand in contrast to justice viewed as custom or law, and as retribution or sentence. ^[6]

Consorts/Children

1. With Zeus
   1. Horae: the Hours
      1. First Generation (other names are also known)
         1. Auxo (the Grower)
         2. Carpo (the Fruit-bringer)
         3. Thallo (the Plant-raiser)
      2. Second Generation
         1. Dike (Trial), known as Astraea in Roman mythology, the constellation Virgo
         2. Eirene (Peace)
         3. Eunomia (Rule of Law)
   2. Moirae: the Fates
      1. Atropos (the Inevitable)
      2. Clotho (the Weaver)
      3. Lachesis (the Lot-caster)

Iustitia

A Roman equivalent of one aspect of Hellenic Themis, as the personification of the divine rightness of law, was Iustitia (Anglicized as Justitia). Her origins are in civic abstractions of a Roman mindset, rather than archaic mythology, so drawing comparisons is not fruitful. Portrayed as an impassive woman, holding scales and a double-edged sword (sometimes a cornucopia), and since the 1500s usually shown blindfolded, the sculpted figure outside a county courthouse is Iustitia or Lady Justice, not Themis.

See also

• Nyx
• Themis music

References

External links

• Theoi Project: Themis

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Themis

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