Themis

• the goddess of justice and of prophecy, Cat. 68, 153; Ov. M. 1, 321; 1, 379; 4, 643; 7, 762; 9, 403; 9, 419; Luc. 5, 81; Claud. Rapt. Pros. 1, 107; Mart. Cap. 2, § 174; Schol. Juv. 1, 82.—
• II The daughter of Ilus and mother of Anchises, Hyg. Fab. 94; 270.

(Θέμις).

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.)

2. A daughter of Ilus and the wife of Capys, by whom she became the mother of Anchises. (Apollod. 3.12.2.) [L.S]

or Theomis, the name of a poet to whom some late Greek writers ascribe the invention of tragedy, is probably nothing more than a corruption of Thespis. (Bode, Gesch. d. Hellen. Dicktkunst, vol. iii. pt. 1. p. 34.) [P.S]

• the goddess of justice and of prophecy, O., Ct.

(Θέμις). The daughter of Uranus and Gé. She was married to Zeus, by whom she became the mother of the Horae, Eunomia, Diké (Astraea), Irené, and of the Moerae. 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, and as convening, by the command of Zeus, the assembly of the gods. She dwells in Olympus, and is on friendly terms with Hera. She is also described as a prophetic divinity, and is said to have been in possession of the Delphic Oracle as the successor of Gé, and predecessor of Apollo. Nymphs, believed to be daughters of Zeus and Themis, lived in a cave on the river Eridanus, and the Hesperides also are called daughters of Zeus and Themis. On coins she often bears a resemblance to the figure of Athené, and holds a cornncopia and a pair of scales.

• Hdt. 2.50
• a Titanid, daughter of Sky and Earth: Apollod. 1.1.2
• mother of the Seasons: Paus. 5.17.1
• mother of the Seasons and the Fates by Zeus: Apollod. 1.2.6
• her oracle at Delphi: Apollod. 1.4.1
• shares oracle at Delphi but gives her share to Apollo: Paus. 10.5.6
• her prophecy to Zeus and Poseidon as to the son of Thetis: Apollod. 3.13.4
• altar of: Paus. 5.14.10
• images: Paus. 5.17.1, Paus. 9.25.4
• temples and sanctuaries: Paus. 1.22.1, Paus. 2.27.5, Paus. 9.22.1, Paus. 9.25.4
• image of Demeter Lusia near Thelpusa sometimes interpreted as that of Themis: Paus. 8.25.7

• Themides