The statue of justice and its attributes

In Greek, the word Themis referred to divine law. These rules of conduct have long been established by custom. The term was not generally used to describe the laws of human decree, but its conception has changed over time. Today, it is symbolized by Lady Justice who represents the law and the constitution of human rights.

Themis the goddess of justice

What are the symbols of Themis' justice?

Famous sculptures of justice sculpture

Where to buy a statue of Justice Themis?

Themis and her attributes

Themis was the titanic goddess of divine law and order. These were the traditional rules of conduct first established by the gods. She was also a prophetic goddess. She presided over the most ancient oracles, including that of Delphi. Indeed, in this role, she represented the divine voice that first instructed humanity in the laws of justice.

Themis is closely related to Demeter Thesmophoros. Indeed, Themis' six children who are the Horai, representing the seasons and the Moirai, as well as Fate, bring death, reflect the two functions of Persephone, Demeter's daughter. Themis has also been identified with Gaia especially in the role of the oracular voice of the earth.

She was worshipped as a goddess in Athens. She was also credited with wisdom, foresight, and prophecy. The name of her son, Prometheus, means "foresight." She knew secrets unknown even to Zeus. Themis was the protector of the oppressed and a promoter of hospitality.

Justice was one of the virtues celebrated by the Emperor Augustus in his Clipeus Virtuoso and a temple of Iustitia was established in Rome on January 8, 13 BC by the Emperor Tiberius. The Emperor Vespasian engraved coins with the image of the goddess seated on a throne called Justitia Augusta. Many emperors after him used the image of the goddess to proclaim themselves protectors of justice.

As time passed, especially with the adoption of Christianity by Rome, the goddess Justicia became more of an iconic representation of justice than a deity. No incense or sacrifice was offered to the goddess. However, she was sworn to truth and impartiality during judgment ceremonies.

The people worshipped the goddess for the attributes she represents. These are:

Law and Order

The "law and order" that Themis represents imaged the sense of natural order and what was appropriate, especially in relation to family or community. These customs were seen as naturally occurring, although today they are considered cultural or social constructs. It was these representations that inspired the illustrious figure Chief Justice John Marshall.

Blind justice

The representation of Themis for the Greeks, Justicia for the Romans or Lady Justice for the Americans, blindfolded is more frequent in the 16th century and in modern times. Blindness represents fairness and impartiality as well as the gift of prophecy.

Oracle Worship

Themis followed her mother Gaia into the occupation of the Oracle at Delphi. In some traditions, Themis is the originator of the Oracle. The divinatory powers and wisdom given to the Oracle of Delphi, an important figure in ancient Greece, originated from Themis and were passed on to Apollo.

Themis shared a temple at Rhamnus with Nemesis because those who ignore divine or natural laws must face sentence and punishment. Nemesis is the goddess of divine vengeance against those who have committed pride, arrogance, excessive pride and defiance of Olympus by rejecting law and order.

The symbols of Themis' justice

Universally, the symbols representing the goddess of justice are as follows.

The balance

The scales of justice represent the balance of the individual in relation to the needs of society as well as a fair balance between the interests of one person and those of another. The personification of justice as a scale dates back to the Egyptian goddess of justice, Maat, who upheld truth and fairness.

The balance represents the weighing of evidence and scales have no basis to mean that evidence must stand on its own merits.

Blindfolded

The blindfold represents impartiality, the ideal that justice should be applied without regard to wealth, power, or other status. The blindfold, a symbol of blind justice, represents equality, knowing no difference between the parties involved. Depictions of the Lady Justice in Western tradition since the 16th century show that she sometimes wears a blindfold, which is more common in Europe.

The Sword

The sword represented authority in ancient times and conveys the idea that justice can be swift and final. The sword of Justice is the active force, a symbol of power, protection, authority, vigilance and might. This double-edged sword in Justice's left hand recognizes the power of Reason and Justice, which can be wielded for or against any party. It recalls the need for real punishment, the power of law and, ultimately, the power over life and death.

The bare knee

Greco-Roman clothing symbolizes the status of the philosophical attitude that embodies justice by revealing the knee. The knee turns out to be a joint that symbolizes justice and righteousness. Indeed, it is with the help of this joint that we balance our posture and stand straight. It is in this aspect that the Greco-Romans believe that revealing the knee is a sign of justice and fairness. It is during the Renaissance that this practice resurfaces. In addition, in order to punish us for breaking a rule, we always put a person on their knees.

The Tables of the Law

The Tablets of the Law are often replaced by parchment. Indeed, because of the Christianization of cultures, parchment was replaced by the table of the ten commandments. This practice became commonplace among Renaissance artists inspired by writers such as Ovid. Later, some sculptors engraved the rights of man on them. The table represents the material law that governs each individual in human society.

The hand of justice

Some illustrators imagine justice holding a scepter with a hand at the end. This image is notably inspired by ancient Egypt where we can see sarcophagi of the Pharaohs holding a seal and a scourge. These two accessories represent both his high authority, but also a sign of an impartial and divine judgment. In the case of the statue of justice, his hand designates the same representations. Indeed, this scepter bequeathed and carried by the kings of France declares their high authority, because the monarch is considered a representative of God on earth.

Themis Sculptures and Sculptors

Although ancient Greece had many famous sculptors such as Phidias or Kallikrates, few of them were able to represent the goddess Themis. Indeed, during their time, justice was the responsibility of the region's protective god. It was the goddess Athena, representing war and democracy, who presided over decision-making. At the height of democracy, it was the people and the Oracle of Delphi who made political and judicial decisions.

It was during the Enlightenment and the birth of the first constitution by Chief Justice John Marshall that sculptors were inspired by the goddess. Courts and courthouses had updated representations of the goddess Justicia such as illustrations, statues, and mosaics.

In Italy the roman statues of the goddess of justice are visible in many cities, you can see the statue of this goddess in many countries of the world, whether in Naples in Italy or in Dublin in the famous castle built in 1204 by Meiler Fitzhenry on the orders of King John of England.

Statue of the goddess of justice in Dublin, Pixabay image.

During this period, France was full of famous sculptors such as Jean Louis Jaley, a student of Pierre Cartellier. We also find Francisque Joseph Duret, son and student of François-Joseph Duret who sculpted the Place de la Bourse. Located at the left corner of the main facade of the Bourse: "La Justice consulaire", sculpted in 1851, is made of stone. Finally, we also have François Jouffroy, a sculptor from Dijon who became a professor of sculpture in Paris at the School of Fine Arts.

Among them is Jean-Antoine Houdon. The statue of Themis is a sculpture that stands on the roundabout of the same name, in Cherbourg-Octeville, a delegated commune of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. This Statue, sculpted in stone around 1810 by Jean-Antoine Houdon, is located on the place of the Palais de Bourbon and is entitled: "The Law".

The first known representation of Blind Justice is Hans Gieng's 1543 statue on the Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Fountain of Justice) in Bern.

In modern times, we find various statues of justice in important places and squares such as the Place de Justice in Verdun, between the Grand-Carmes convent and the Agard passage, in New Zealand, Hong Kong or in America.

The statue of Themis, goddess of justice, in bronze at HTdeco

This statue of Themis, made entirely of bronze, has all the main representations of the goddess.

It has dimensions suitable for being placed on a work table or desk: height 44 cm, width 16,5 cm and depth 13,5 cm, it weighs 5,1 kg. The bronze is placed on a black marble base.

The sculpture was made using the "lost wax" technique, an ancestral technique that enhances the statue through its details. This manufacturing method consists of making a wax sculpture which then allows a clay mold to be made (today often replaced by refractory cement) which, after casting the bronze, is broken to reveal the figurine. The statue is then chiseled and then patinated.

Thanks to its imposing nature, it allows us to remember the virtues of justice and what the profession represents. This statuette is available for purchase on htdeco.fr.