Themis 79022 226178097 2008-07-17T04:47:52Z Wetman 21492 restored lost para., fixed introduced redlink; heading "Iustitia" {{Greek myth (titan-concept)}} [[Image:0029MAN-Themis.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Themis'' from the Temple of [[Nemesis (mythology)|Nemesis]], [[Rhamnous]], Attica, signed by the sculptor Chairestratos, c. 300 BCE.]] In [[Greek mythology]], [[Hesiod]] mentions<ref>Hesiod, ''[[Theogony]]'' 132; this origin was part of [[Orphism|Orphic tradition]] as well (Orphic Hymn 79).</ref> '''Themis''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Θέμις) among the six sons and six daughters of [[Gaia (mythology)|Gaia]] and [[Uranus (mythology)|Uranus]], that is, of Earth with Sky. Among these [[Titan (mythology)|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 [[Moirae|Three Fates]] themselves<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony,'' 904.</ref> A fragment of [[Pindar]],<ref>Pindar, fragment 30.</ref> 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"), she "of good counsel," was the embodiment of divine order, law and custom. When Themis is disregarded, [[Nemesis (mythology)|Nemesis]] brings just and wrathful retribution, thus Themis shared the Nemesion 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 "themistopoloi" (the servants of Themis). Such was the basis for order upon Olympus too. 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 (mythology)|Gaia]] and later gave it to [[Phoebe (mythology)|Phoebe]]. With [[Zeus]] she more certainly bore the [[Horae]],<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'', 901ff.</ref> those embodiments of the right moment &mdash; the rightness of Order unfolding in Time &mdash; and [[Astraea (mythology)|Astraea]]. Themis was there at [[Delos]] to witness the [[Leto#Witnesses at the birth of Apollo|birth of Apollo]]. According to [[Ovid]], it was Themis rather than Zeus who told [[Deucalion]] to throw the bones of [[Gaia|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.<ref>[http://lib.law.washington.edu/ref/themis.html (University of Washington School of Law) Themis, Goddess of Justice]</ref>" Her ability to foresee the future enabled her to become one of the [[Oracle at Delphi | Oracles of Delphi]], which in turn led to her establishment as the goddess of divine justice. Some classical representations{{cn}} of Themis 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 (mythology)|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. <ref>[<http://www.bu.edu/wcp/Papers/Comp/CompGian.htm Donna Marie Giancola, "Justice and the Face of the Great Mother (East and West)"]</ref> ==Consorts/Children== # With [[Zeus]] ## [[Horae]]: the Hours ### First Generation (other names are also known) #### [[Horae#First Generation|Auxo]] (the Grower) #### [[Horae#First Generation|Carpo]] (the Fruit-bringer) #### [[Horae#First Generation|Thallo]] (the Plant-raiser) ### Second Generation #### [[Dike (goddess)|Dike]] (Trial), known as [[Astraea (mythology)|Astraea]] in Roman mythology, the constellation Virgo #### [[Eirene (Greek goddess)|Eirene]] (Peace) #### [[Eunomia (goddess)|Eunomia]] (Rule of Law) ## [[Moirae]]: the Fates ### [[Atropos]] (the Inevitable) ### [[Clotho]] (the Weaver) ### [[Lachesis (mythology)|Lachesis]] (the Lot-caster) ==Iustitia== A [[Roman mythology|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, 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== *[[Themis_music|Themis Music]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanisThemis.html Theoi Project: Themis] {{Commonscat|Themis}} [[Category:Greek mythology]] [[Category:Classical oracles]] [[Category:Oracular goddesses]] [[Category:Justice goddesses]] [[Category:Titans]] [[bs:Temida]] [[br:Themis]] [[bg:Темида]] [[ca:Temis]] [[cs:Themis]] [[da:Themis]] [[de:Themis (Mythologie)]] [[el:Θέμις]] [[es:Temis (mitología)]] [[eo:Temiso]] [[fr:Thémis (mythologie)]] [[he:תמיס (מיתולוגיה)]] [[ko:테미스]] [[hr:Temida]] [[id:Themis]] [[it:Temi]] [[ka:თემისი]] [[lb:Themis (Mythologie)]] [[lt:Temidė]] [[nl:Themis (godheid)]] [[ja:テミス]] [[no:Themis]] [[pl:Temida (bogini)]] [[pt:Têmis]] [[ro:Themis]] [[ru:Фемида]] [[simple:Themis]] [[sk:Themis]] [[sl:Temida]] [[sr:Темида]] [[sh:Temida]] [[fi:Themis]] [[sv:Themis]] [[tr:Themis]] [[uk:Феміда]] [[zh:忒弥斯]]