Themis in Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology

（*Qe/mis). 1. A daughter of Uranus (others say Helios, Tzetz. ad Lycoph. 129) and Ge, was married to Zeus, by whom she became the mother of the Horae, Eunomia, Dice (Astraea), Eirene, and the Moerae. (Hes. Theog. 135, 901, &c.; Apollod. 1.3.1.) In the Homeric poems, Themis is the personification of the order of things established by law, custom, and equity, whence she is described as reigning in the assemblies of men (Od. 2.68, &c.), and as convening, by the command of Zeus, the assembly of the gods. (Il. 20.4.) She dwells in Olympus, and is on friendly terms with Hera. (15.87, &c.) This character of Themis was recognised in the fact that at Thebes she had a sanctuary in common with the Moerae and Zeus Agoraeus (Paus. 9.25.4), and at Olympia in common with the Horae. (Paus. 5.14.8, 17.1; comp. Diod. 5.67.) Besides this she is also described as an ancient prophetic divinity, and is said to have been in possession of the Delphic oracle as the successor of Ge, and previous to Apollo. (Ov. Met. 1.321, 4.642; Apollon. 4.800; Serv. ad Aen. 4.246; Apollod. 1.4.1 ; Paus. 10.5.3; Aeschyl. Eum. init.) The worship of Themis was established at Thebes, Olympia, Athens (Paus. 1.22.1), at Tanagra (9.22.1), and at Troezene, where an altar was dedicated to the Themides. (2.31.8.) Nymphs believed to be daughters of Zeus and Themis lived in a cave on the river Eridanus (Apollod. 2.5.11 ; Schol. ad Apollon. Rhod. 4.1396; Hesych. s. v. Θεμιστιάδες), and the Hesperides also are called daughters of Zeus and Themis. (Schol. ad Eur. Hipp. 737.) She is often represented on coins resembling the figure of Athena with a cornucopia and a pair of scales. (Gellius, 14.4; Hirt, Mythol. Bilderb. p. 112; Müller, Anc. Art and its Rem. § 406.) - A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, William Smith, Ed.

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