Goddess Themis
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ScribdTranslationsGoddess Themis
Uploaded by
ScribdTranslationsGoddess Themis
Themis is the personification and goddess of divine law, will, and justice in
Greek mythology. The Olympians held it in great esteem and often sat.
next to the throne of Zeus to give wise counsel. He held the position of oracle
in Delphi before giving up their prophetic powers to Apollo. Some epithets
common to Temis are Gaia Temis ('Earth' and 'Law').
Temis was the daughter of Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth) and the second wife of Zeus.
he is represented with the sword of justice and a scale, symbol of the
the law and the judgment it issues.
Birth and family
In Hesiod's Theogony (around 700 BC), Themis is the daughter of Gaia (Earth) and
Uranus (Sky). She is the sister of Oceanus, Reay Cronus.
Then, lying with Uranus, she gave birth to Oceanus, Ceo, Crius, Hyperion,
Japheth, a Tea, a Rhea, a Themis, a Mnemosyne, to the kind Tetis and Phoebe, from
golden crown.
(Theogony, 136-140)
Temis became the second wife of Zeus (although some sources say
What was the first). Her children with Zeus represented the visible order of the world.
Among them were the Hours (the Seasons), Irene (Peace), Dice (Justice) and the
three Fates (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos). In some sources, such as in the tragedy
Aeschylus (circa 525 BC - 456 BC) Prometheus Bound, Themis appears as the
mother of Prometheus, although he is more commonly known as the son of Japetus and
Clímene or Asia.
OFTEN APPEARS HOLDING THE
SWORD OF JUSTICE AND A CHAIN IN
THE RIGHT HAND, AND THE BALANCE IN THE
LEFT.
Ancient artists represented Themis as a mature woman, with large
eyes and a flowing dress tied at the shoulder. In Greek art, she often wears the
sword of justice and a chain in the right hand, and the scale in the left,
what symbolizes the causes it judges. Sometimes it is blinded to show its
impartiality before each individual judged.
Goddess of law, will, and divine justice
As the goddess of law, divine will, and justice, Themis oversaw all the
laws that governed mortals and immortals, often in assemblies held by
kings who listened to petitions and issued sentences. These laws were usually
immune to any external or human influence.
The prophecies of Themis
As a great goddess, Themis had prophetic powers, which she used to help both
mortals as to immortals. Their most famous prophecy was regarding the son of the
Nereida Tetis. Zeus intended to marry Tetis until Themis told him
It was reported that any son of Thetis would be much greater than his father.
As expected, Zeus did not want anyone to challenge his power, much less his
own son, which is why he renounced Thetis and married her to the mortal king Peleus of Phthia.
Temis was right; from this marriage was born the great Greek [Link],
whose legendary deeds are still talked about today.
