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During the War of the Titans , known as the Titanomachy, Themis was an ally of Zeus and subsequently became one of his wives. From the union of Themis and Zeus were born:
- The Hours : Auxo, Carpo and Talo;
- The Fates or Fates : Atropos, Clotho and Lachesis.
Zeus and Themis were credited with destiny and law, respectively ; therefore, their children inherited both characteristics. The Fates were in charge of controlling the destiny of men, that is, their divine purpose. The Hours controlled the seasons, maintaining the natural order and the temporal cycles of nature.
Other versions also include the goddesses Astrea, Dice, Eunomia, Irena, the nymphs of the Eridano river and the Hesperides as a descendant of Themis. Some myths claim that Themis was the mother of Prometheus; however, the most accepted version suggests that Prometheus was the son of Iapetus and Clymene.
Themis Characteristics
Themis was represented as a beautiful woman, dressed in a white tunic. At times she would appear blindfolded, and at others holding a scale in one hand and a sword or horn in the other.
Another important characteristic of Themis was her role as the daughter of the gods of heaven and earth, and it was believed that her origin made her a mediator or link between divine law and that of men. Themis is generally represented with symbols that highlight these qualities:
- Blindness : it was represented with a blindfold as a symbol of the impartiality of justice, which sees beyond human laws. He also pointed to her gift of prophecy, which allowed her to see the future without mundane visions of the present.
- The balance: as a representation of equity. Themis personified the natural order and divine laws, especially essential for the order of humanity.
Her Roman equivalent is the goddess Justitia or Lustitia , also known as “Justice”. Both goddesses began to be represented, often blindfolded, from the 16th century AD This continues today. Today, their images are used in Western courts as a symbol of law and justice.
The myths of Themis
There are different myths about Themis:
- According to Greek mythology, Themis held the oracle at Delphi along with her mother. Some versions suggest that Themis founded this oracle, thanks to his ability to prophesy. Subsequently, he gave the compound of Delphi to his sister Phoebe and the god Apollo .
- Nemesis and Themis shared a temple on Ramnunte. When divine law, represented by Themis, was ignored, Nemesis, who was the goddess of revenge, came into action. In this way the natural order was restored.
- Another legend tells that Atlas refused to help Perseus because Themis had warned him that a son of Zeus would try to steal the golden apples of the Hesperides.
- In Ovid’s account, Themis taught early humans how to repopulate the earth after the great worldwide flood.
Bibliography
- Homer. The Iliad and the Odyssey. (2013). Spain. FV Editions.
- Hard, R. The Great Book of Greek Mythology . (2009). Spain. The sphere of books.
