Themis
Themis was the Titaness of divine law and natural order — the figure behind Lady Justice.
The Myth of Themis
Themis did not fight the Olympians. She became Zeus's second wife and bore the Horae (Seasons) and Moirai (Fates). She sat beside Zeus as counsellor, representing deeper natural law. Her scales weigh right against wrong; her sword enforces the verdict.
Parents
Gaia and Uranus
Symbols
Fun Fact
Lady Justice atop courthouses worldwide is Themis. The blindfold was a Renaissance addition the Greeks never used.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Themis
🏔 titanTitaness of divine law and prophecy
The Titaness of divine law, custom, and natural order who served as Zeus's first counsellor and held Delphi before Apollo.
Astraea
🏔 titanStar-maiden of justice
The virgin goddess of justice who lived among humans during the Golden Age and was the last immortal to leave Earth.
Eurynome
🏔 titanPastures, Wide Rule
A Titaness who in some traditions ruled Olympus alongside her husband Ophion before being overthrown by Cronus and Rhea in a divine coup.
Kratos
🏔 titanstrength, might, power
The personification of strength and ruling power, son of Pallas and Styx, divine executor of Zeus's commands.
Rhea
🏔 titanTitaness of fertility, motherhood, the mountain wilds
Mother of the Olympian gods and wife of Kronos. Rhea saved the infant Zeus from being devoured by his father, enabling the rise of the Olympians.
Dione
🏔 titanTitaness and mother of Aphrodite
An ancient Titaness worshipped at Dodona as the consort of Zeus and, in Homer's tradition, the mother of Aphrodite.
Hyperion
🏔 titanTitan of heavenly light, observation
Titan of light and father of the sun, moon, and dawn. Hyperion was one of the original twelve Titans, embodying the celestial light that preceded the Olympians.
Coeus
🏔 titanTitan of intellect
Coeus was the Titan of rational intelligence and the celestial axis — grandfather of Apollo and Artemis through his daughter Leto.
Anytus
🏔 titanTitan who raised Despoina
One of the Titans who nursed the secret daughter of Demeter and Poseidon in Arcadia.
Koios
🏔 titanTitan of the axis of heaven and rational inquiry
The Titan associated with the celestial pole and intellectual inquiry, father of Leto and grandfather of Apollo.
Eurybia
🏔 titanMastery of the Seas, Sea Power
An ancient sea goddess whose name meant "wide force," bridging the generation between the primordial ocean and the Titan dynasty.
Metis
🏔 titanWisdom, Cunning Counsel
The Titaness of wisdom and first wife of Zeus, swallowed whole by the king of the gods when a prophecy warned that her child would surpass him.