Themis

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Themis and Eris: Order and Discord, on earth as in heaven

In Greek mythology, among the six brothers and six sisters of whom Cronos made one, Hesiod mentions Themis among the children of Gaia with Ouranos, 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 (Hesiod, Theogony, 904). A fragment of Pindar, 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. With Zeus she more certainly bore the Horae, 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.

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 brings just and wrathful retribution. 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, and the family the pillar of the deme. 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 the birth of Zeus on Crete. She built the Oracle at Delphi and was herself oracular. Themis was one of the gods behind the Oracle at Delphi, which she received from Gaia and gave to Phoebe.

Consorts/Children

1. With Zeus
   1. Horae
      1. First Generation (other names are also known)
         1. Auxo
         2. Carpo
         3. Thallo
      2. Second Generation
         1. Dike, known as Astraea in Roman mythology, the constellation Virgo
         2. Eirene
         3. Eunomia
   2. Moirae: the Fates
      1. Atropos
      2. Clotho
      3. Lachesis

A Roman equivalent of one aspect of Hellenic Themis, as the personification of the divine rightness of law, was Justitia. Her origins are in civic abstrations of a Roman mindset, rather than archaic mythology, so drawing comparisons is not fruitful. Portrayed as an impassive woman, blindfolded and holding scales and a cornucopia, the sculpted figure outside a county courthouse is Justitia, not Themis (illustration, above right).

There is also an asteroid 24 Themis.