Symbols of Justice and What They Mean

Symbols of justice are among the earliest symbols ever created. Many can be dated back to ancient

times, originating in Ancient Egypt, Greece or Rome. Although they began hundreds of years ago, the

symbols of justice still remain as a link between the rational law and the natural law in the justice

system.

Today, the most recognized symbol of justice is the statue of a blindfolded woman with a scroll or

sword in one hand and scales in the other hand, but there are several other symbols associated justice and

law which are obscure. In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at these symbols, where they come

from and what they symbolize.

Themis

Themis, also known as ‘the Lady of Good Counsel’, is

a Titaness from ancient Greece, famous for being a much-

used symbol of justice. She was an organizer of

communal affairs of the ancient Greeks. Her name,

Themis, means ‘divine law’ and the Scales of Justice are

her most important symbol, used to demonstrate a

pragmatic and balanced outlook.

Themis is the personification of fairness, natural law, divine order and custom in Greek religion.

Since the 16th century, she’s mostly been depicted wearing a blindfold which represents impartiality, the

idea that justice should always be applied without bias.

 Justitia

Justitia, also called Lady Justice, is the Roman goddess of justice and the equivalent of Themis. Like

Themis, she’s typically portrayed as blindfolded, holding a sword in one hand and a set of scales in the

other. Sometimes, she’s depicted holding a flame in one hand and in the other a bundle of rods tied

around an axe known as the fasces which symbolizes judicial authority.

Dike was always depicted carrying a pair of balance scales, and it was believed that she ruled over

human law.

The ancient Romans revered Justitia or lustitia, who most closely resembles the Lady of Justice

statues formed in more modern times. She represented the morality of the justice system.

There were several statues of Justitia sculpted in North America in the 19th and 20th century to

symbolize the equal and fair administration of the law without greed, corruption, prejudice or favor.

Today, she’s a common sight on legal institutions and court houses all over the world.

The Lady Justice statue is usually in the form of a woman who is standing or sitting. She is typically

dressed in a toga-like robe, maybe barefoot, and her hair is either flowing over her shoulders or braided

in a bun or around her head. She holds a balance, or two-tray scale in one hand and a sword in the other;

usually the scales are in the left hand and the sword in the right, but this is not always so. Sometimes, she

also wears a blindfold over her eyes.

 Fasces

The fasces, a bundle of rods bound around an axe by leather thongs, was

an ancient Roman symbol of authority and power. It was said to have

originated in the Etruscan civilization and then passed on to Rome, where it

was symbolic of jurisdiction and a magistrate’s power. The axe of the fasces

was a symbol that was originally associated with the Labrys, one of the oldest symbols of ancient

Greece.

As a whole, the fasces is symbolic of strength through unity: that a single rod can easily be broken

while a bundle of rods cannot. However, the bundle of birch twigs also symbolizes corporal punishment

and justice.

The Sword

The Sword of Justice (carried by Justitia), is a symbol of authority, vigilance, power, protection and

might. It’s with a sword that one can mete out punishment as deserved.

This item symbolizes enforcement and respect, and means that justice stands by its decision and

ruling, and is able to take action. The fact that the sword is unsheathed and very visible is a sign that

justice is transparent and is not an implement of fear. A double-edged blade signifies that justice can rule

against either of the parties once the evidence has been perused, and it is bound to enforce the ruling as

well as protect or defend the innocent party.

The double-edged sword usually seen in Justitia’s left hand, recognizes the power of Justice and

Reason and can be wielded either against or for any party. It’s a reminder of the power of law, the need

for real punishment and the power over both life and death and reinforces the concept that justice can be

swift and final.

Justitia’s sword is also a symbol of authority wielded throughout history by emperors, kings and

generals which is why it’s one of the earliest known symbols for justice.
 The Scales

These represent impartiality and the obligation of the law (through its representatives) to weigh the

evidence presented to the court. Each side of a legal case needs to be looked at and comparisons made as

justice is done.

Strongly associated with the legal system and principles of equity and fairness, scales have long been

used as a symbol of fairness, balance and an objective outlook.

This symbolism goes back to ancient Egyptian times. According to the legends, the powerful

Egyptian god Anubis used a set of scales to weigh the soul of deceased people against a feather (the

Feather of Truth).

Today, the scales relate to the fairness in a judicial process. They show that both sides of a case

should be considered in court without bias or prejudice and that any decisions taken should be done by

weighing the evidence fairly. They imply a rational, mechanistic process: too much of evidence (weight)

on one side of the scale will cause it to tilt in favour of guilt or innocence.

The Blindfold

The blindfold is another famous symbol of Blind justice that’s often seen worn by Lady Justice.

Although it was used throughout history, it only became popular in the late fifteenth century.

This first appeared on a Lady Justice statue in the 16th century, and has been used intermittently

since then. Apparently, its original significance was that the judicial system was tolerating abuse or

ignorance of aspects of the law. However, in modern times, the blindfold represents the impartiality and

objectivity of the law and that it doesn’t let outside factors, such as politics, wealth or fame, influence its

decisions.

It symbolizes that justice should always be rendered without prejudice or passion and only the facts

on the scales should be considered. The blindfold also implies that no emotional impressions of the
defendant should be taken into consideration and that justice should be applied without being impacted

by power, wealth or other status.

Justice is blind.

Overall, like the scales, the blindfold symbolizes impartiality and equality in justice.

The Scroll

Scrolls have a long history, dating back to ancient times. In ancient Egypt, (3000 BC) scrolls were

made from papyrus and were the first form of records that could be edited.

The scroll is a famous symbol closely associated with law and justice, signifying knowledge,

learning, the extent of life and passing of time. It also represents continued learning as life unfolds and

education as a responsibility of the society and everyone in it.

Although scrolls have been superseded by the book format, they’re still made for religious or

ceremonial purposes.

The Feather of Truth

The Feather of Truth belonged to the Egyptian goddess, Maat, and often depicted worn in a

headband. It was used in the Land of the Dead to decide if the dead were worthy of afterlife. If a soul

weighed more than the feather, it meant the person was unworthy and would be eaten by Ammit, the

ancient Egyptian ‘Devourer of the Dead’. Although the feather was a popular symbol associated with

justice in the past, it’s no longer used in the justice system today.

The Gavel and Block

 The gavel is a small mallet typically made of hardwood, fashioned with a handle and used in the

courthouse. It’s usually struck on a sounding block to intensify its sound. The origin of the gavel remains

unknown but it has been used for decades in courts of law and legislatures to keep calm and order in the

court.

A symbol of authority in the courtroom, the gavel gives its user the right to officially act as a

presiding officer. Today, its use isn’t restricted only to the courtroom but has extended to auctions and

meetings as well.

Block is a large solid piece of hard material, especially rock, stone, or wood, typically with flat

surfaces on each side.

Veritas

Veritas is the goddess of truth in ancient Roman

mythology, often depicted as a young woman dressed

entirely in white. According to the myths, she hid in a

holy well because of her elusiveness. She had delicate

features, wears a long, flowing gown and is portrayed

pointing at a book in her hand with the word ‘Veritas’

(meaning truth in English) inscribed on it.

The

statue

of Veritas

(Truth) is commonly associated with the legal system

and stands with the statue of Justitia (Justice) outside the

Canadian Supreme Court. It represents the highest

court of Canada and is well-known as a justice symbol in

many other countries as well.

 She is depicted both as a virgin dressed in white
and as the "naked truth" (nuda veritas) holding a
hand mirror.

Greek equivalent: Aletheia

Greek name Roman Name Translation

Dike Justitia Justice

DIKE

DIKE (Dicé) was the goddess of justice, fair judgements and the rights established by custom and
law. She was one of the three Horai (Horae), goddesses of the seasons, and keepers of the gates of
heaven. Her sisters were Eunomia (Good Order) and Eirene (Peace). Like her siblings, she probably also
represented an aspect of springtime growth.

Dike was identified with Dikaiosyne (RIghteousness) and Astraia (Astraea) (the Contellation Virgo).
Her opposite number was Adikia (Adicia) (Injustice).

DIKE SUMMARY
Parents Zeus & Themis
Goddess Justice
Home Mt. Olympus
Roman Name Justitia/Justitia

Dike was the goddess of justice and moral order in Greek mythology. She was the daughter of Zeus

and Themis. Although both Dike and Themis were considered personifications of justice, Dike

represented more the justice based on socially enforced norms and conventional rules, human justice,
while Themis was the representation of divine justice. She was considered to be a young woman holding

a balance scale; her Roman counterpart was depicted in the same way but also blindfolded. Along with

Eunomia and Eirene, Dike belonged to the second-generation Horae, goddesses of the seasons and the

natural portions of time. She was represented in the sky by the constellation Virgo; according to an

account concerning the origins of the constellation, Dike lived on the earth during the first two Ages of

Man, the Golden and the Silver ages. During that period, men lived in peace with each other, grew crops

and there was no disease. However, men became greedy and Dike, enraged, decided to go to the sky.

That's when mankind went into the bronze age

DICE (Dikê), the personification of justice, was, according to Hesiod (Theog. 901), a daughter of

Zeus and Themis, and the sister of Eunomia and Eirene. She was considered as one of the Horae ; she

watched the deeds of man, and approached the throne of Zeus with lamentations whenever a judge

violated justice. She was the enemy of all falsehood, and the protectress of a wise administration of

justice and Hesychia, that is, tranquillity of mind, was her daughter. (She is frequently called the

attendant or councillor (paredros or xunnedros) of Zeus. (In the tragedians, Dice appears as a divinity

who severely punishes all wrong, watches over the maintenance of justice, and pierces the hearts of the

unjust with the sword made for her by Aesa. (In this capacity she is closely connected with the Erinnyes

(Aeschyl. Eum. 510), though her business is not only to punish injustice, but also to reward virtue. The

idea of Dice as justice personified is most perfectly developed in the dramas of Sophocles and Euripides.

She was represented on the chest of Cypselus as a handsome goddess, dragging Adicia (Injustice) with

one hand, while in the other she held a staff with which she beat her.

"Listen to right and do not foster violence; for violence is bad for a poor man. Even the

prosperous cannot easily bear its burden, but is weighed down under it when he has fallen into delusion.

The better path is to go by on the other side towards justice;

In Greek mythology, Dike or Dice[1] (/ˈdaɪkiː/ or /ˈdaɪsiː/;[2] Greek: Δίκη, dikē, 'custom') is the

goddess of justice and the spirit of moral order and fair judgement as a transcendent universal ideal or

based on immemorial custom, in the sense of socially enforced norms and conventional rules. According
 to Hesiod (Theogony, l. 901), she was fathered by Zeus upon his second consort, Themis. She and her

mother are both personifications of justice. She is depicted as a young, slender woman carrying a

balance scale and wearing a laurel wreath. The constellation Libra (the Scales) was anciently thought to

represent her distinctive symbol.

THEMIS (the lady of good counsel)

THEMIS SUMMARY
THE TITANESS THEMIS
Parents Uranus and Gaea
Husband Zeus
Goddess of Divine Law and Customs
Symbols Scales of justice, bronze sword
Home Mount Olympus
Roman Name Justitia/Lustitia

Themis, (Greek: “Order”) in Greek religion, personification of justice, goddess of wisdom and good

counsel, and the interpreter of the gods' will.

“The foundations of justice are that no one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.”
 One of the most recognized legal symbols is that of Justice. The idea of a woman portraying justice

Symbols of Justice dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman images of Themis and Justitia.

Themis, the Greek goddess of justice and law, was known for her clear-sightedness. In Roman

mythology, Justitia (Justice) was one of the four Virtues. Justitia was often portrayed as blindfolded,

holding scales and a sword. She was sometimes depicted holding the fasces (a bundle of rods around an

ax symbolizing judicial authority) in one hand and a flame, symbolizing truth, in the other.

Many Western societies still portray justice as a blindfolded woman carrying a sword and a set of

scales. She symbolizes the fair and equal administration of the law, without corruption, greed, prejudice,

or favour. The entrance to the Supreme Court of Canada building in Ottawa is flanked by two huge

statues, Justitia and Veritas (Truth). The statue of Justitia is portrayed as a woman holding a two-edged

sword, but she does not wear the traditional blindfold. Some have interpreted this to mean that the nine

Supreme Court Justices of the highest court of the land must clearly see the consequences of their

decisions, and must communicate them to the Canadian public.

The statues Justitia and Veritas are landmarks in their own right, and have an intriguing history.

After they were commissioned in 1912, the plaster forms for the statues mysteriously disappeared, only

to be found in 1969 in crates in an Ottawa parking lot. They were cast in bronze the next year.

History of Lady Justice

Contrary to popular belief, the concept of Lady Justice did not come from just one culture or

civilization. It actually dates to the time of Ancient Greece and Egypt.

For Greeks, there was Themis, the Greek goddess of justice, law, order, and good counsel. Themis

uses the scales of justice to always remain balanced and pragmatic. However, Themis literally translates

to divine law and order, instead of human ordinance.

 Meanwhile, Ancient Egyptians had Ma’at of the Old Kingdom, who represented order and justice

carried with her a sword and the Feather of Truth. Egyptians believed that this feather (usually depicted

as an ostrich feather) would be weighed against the heart of the soul of the deceased to determine

whether or not he or she could pass through the afterlife.

However, the modern concept of Lady Justice is most similar to the Roman goddess Justitia. Justitia

has become the ultimate symbol of justice in Western civilization. But she is not the Roman counterpart

of Themis. Instead, Justitia’s Greek counterpart is Dike, who is Themis’ daughter.

In Roman art, Justitia is often depicted with the sword and scales alongside her sister Prudentia

who holds a mirror and a snake.