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Ancient Goddesses in New York

An Online Guide to Discovering the Sacred Feminine in
Museums, Temples, and Public Places

Goddess of Justice

 

Lady Justice is spotted frequently around New York and the world. She is a harbinger of what is just and graces modern court houses, and city and state buildings galore. Her roots can be found in the ancient goddess Justitia and Themis, as well as many other ancient divine females. She evolved from a long line of Justice goddesses.

 

 

Lady Justice has Roots the Stretch Back to Ancient Socieities

Photo: Sandra Baker / Alamy Stock Photo

 

Lady Justice can be seen above Borough Hall in Brooklyn, and courts all over the city. "From the dawn of civilization, justice has been conceptualized as a divinity linked to the cosmic order, but it is from the Greek and Roman goddesses of Justice that today's iconic symbol derives," according to the article "Lady Justice," from The Historical Society of New York Courts. "In Greek mythology, the goddesses of justice are Themis and her daughter DikÍ, also known as Astraea. In ancient Rome, DikÍ was known as Justitia and was a civil abstraction rather than a mythological deity."

Justitia Represented Justice, Earthly and Divine

Heritage Image Partnership Ltd  / Alamy Stock Photo
 
The Roman Goddess Justitia is said to have been introduced to the world by Emperor Augustus, who is known for celebrating the virtue of Justice. In her earliest form, she was seen as a symbolic personification of Justice but later she became a goddess with shrines and temples in her name. Her divine status grew when Emperors after Augustus called upon her image to indicate they, too, would uphold justice. Goddess Justia is featured in this renowned 1656 painting "Allegory of Justice: A Powerful Illustration of Divine Retribution" by Bernardino Mei, a prominent artist from Italy during the Baroque period. In this painting, the artist surrounds Justitia, also called Lady Justice, with elements from Greek mythology. The Media Storehouse describes the painting this way. "With her blindfold symbolizing impartiality and scales representing balance, she stands as the epitome of fairness and equity. The composition also includes Nemesis, the goddess of divine retribution. Her presence emphasizes that justice will ultimately prevail and wrongdoers will face consequences for their actions." It is meant to depict the idea that "fairness prevails even in tumultuous times." Justia is said to have once lived among the humans.

Themis Upheld Law with Scales and Sword

Florilegius / Alamy Stock Photo
 
Themis, Greek goddess of divine law and justice, with her scales and sword. The Greek Goddess Themis is often honored as a harbinger of law and order."In Greek mythology, Themis was the personification of divine or natural law, order, and justice," writes  Jone Johnson Lewis, in "Themis: Goddess of Justice," on Thought Co. Her name refers means "divine law,," law that is natural," and "that which is laid down." She was viewed as a goddess with foresight, prophecy, and wisdom. She is sometimes connected to the Oracle of Delphi and was seen as a protector of the oppressed. 

Star Goddess Astraea Brought Justice, Purity, and Precision

 RealyEasyStar/Roberto Gaetano / Alamy Stock Photo

 

This famous image is from Italy Campania Caserta Royal Palace ( Reggia di Caserta) and it depicts the legendary Hall of Astrea on as a Fresco.  Astraea is the ancient Greek goddess of justice, innocence, purity, and precision. She is a celestial virgin Goddess known as "star-maiden" or "starry night", and is the daughter of Astraeus and Eos. She is associated with the goddess of Justice known as Dike (daughter of Zeus and Themis). It is said that she is one of the last divine beings to live among the humans in the Golden Age. She holds court at the Hall of Astrea. This fresco is from a hall honoring her at Reggia Di Caserta.

Dike Keeps Judges in Line and Helps Humans Avoid Violence

Image: Heritage Image Partnership Ltd  / Alamy Stock Photo

 

Dike is often connected with Astrea and seems to be discussed as if they're the same. She is also referred to as the daughter of Themis and Zeus. The Theogony is a poem by Hesiod (8th–7th century BC) describing the origins and genealogies of the Greek gods. It suggests one of Dike's important roles was to bring news of injustice to her father, Zeus - especially about judges who were malicious and unfair. But she also helped humanity live just lives. "The goddess encourages men to find a way to settle disputes without resorting to violence,"  according to Boston Greek, in About Dike – the Greek Mythological Goddess of Justice. "Dike tells that violence is the mark of disorder, which is personified by Hybris, the goddess of insolence and arrogance." In some artwork, Dike is seen fighting with Hybris. It's a disturbing image but perhaps is meant to show her chasing away disorderly beings or conduct. "Dike promises that those who follow paths of good order will be blessed by her father," writes Boston Greek. "This blessing comes in the form of a fruitful spring harvest, which Dike gives in conjunction with Eunomia and Eirene." 

 

 

 

 

 

Maat Presided Over the Scales of Justice Over 5,000 Years Ago

Funky Food London - Paul Williams / Alamy Stock Photo

 

 
Maat was one of the original justice goddesses. No one could pass into the afterlife until they're hearts were weighed against her feather of justice. As the the caption for this image explains: "Ancient Egyptian Book of the dead, the heart is weighed on the scale of Maat against the feather of truth, by the jackal-headed Anubis. The ibis-headed Thoth, scribe of the gods, records the result. If his heart equals exactly the weight of the feather, Hunefer is allowed to pass into the afterlife. If not, he is eaten by the waiting chimeric devouring creature Ammit composed of the deadly crocodile, lion, and hippopotamus."

Lady Justice May Be With or Without Blindfold

frans lemmens / Alamy Stock Photo

 

This is one of many representations of Lady Justice in Manhattan. She can be seen in different forms, with varying symbols. Here she has scales, a blindfold, and a scroll. "Although many people think of Lady Justice as wearing a blindfold, she can also be shown without one," according to the Justitia Educator Newsletter. "Both versions highlight her impartiality. As in the phrase "justice is blind," the blindfold implies that she does not judge on appearance. Equally, examples like this statue suggest that she uses her mind and all her senses to do justice."
 

Lady Justice May (Occasionally) Appear in Human Form on Earth

Randy Duchaine / Alamy Stock Photo
 
The Supreme Court is not in New York but a lifesized statue of Goddess of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg was dedicated to her at Citypoint, in Downtown Brooklyn (Her home borough). This quote from The Supreme Court website seems fitting: "Lady Justice is a blend of Themis and Justitia. The blindfold with which Justice is now associated probably started in the 16th century. In some of the Washington D.C. statues, Justice holds scales, blindfolds, and swords. In one representation she is fighting evil with her gaze, although her sword is still sheathed."
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