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Lady Justice facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
HK Central Statue Square Legislative Council Building n Themis s
Justitia blindfolded and holding balance scales and a sword. Court of Final Appeal, Hong Kong

Lady Justice is a famous symbol that stands for fairness and the law. She is often shown as a woman with a blindfold, a set of scales, and a sword. These items all have special meanings. Lady Justice comes from an ancient Roman goddess named Iustitia. She is similar to the Greek goddesses Themis and Dike, who also represented justice.

Who is the Goddess Iustitia?

Lady Justice started as Iustitia, the goddess of Justice in Roman mythology. Emperor Augustus introduced her, so she was not one of the oldest gods in the Roman pantheon.

Justice was a very important quality that Emperor Augustus wanted to be known for. A temple for Iustitia was built in Rome in 13 BC by Emperor Tiberius. Iustitia became a symbol of justice that every emperor wanted to connect with their rule. Emperor Vespasian even made coins with the goddess sitting on a throne. Many emperors after him used her image to show they were protectors of justice.

Even though she had a temple and was called a goddess, she was often seen more as an artistic symbol than a real god with religious meaning.

How is Lady Justice Shown?

El pesado del corazón en el Papiro de Hunefer
The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead shows a heart being weighed against a feather of truth.

The idea of a person representing justice with scales is very old. It goes back to the goddesses Maat and Isis in ancient Egypt. Later, the Greek goddesses Themis and Dike also represented justice. Themis was the symbol of divine order, law, and custom.

What Do the Scales Mean?

Lady Justice is usually shown holding a set of scales. She holds them in one hand, and they are used to weigh the arguments for and against a case.

The Greek goddess Dike was also shown holding scales. An ancient Greek writer, Bacchylides, wrote about a god holding "the balance of Dike (Justice)."

The scales show that all the evidence in a case should be carefully weighed. The scales often do not have a base, which means that evidence should stand on its own, without any bias.

Why Does She Wear a Blindfold?

Lady Justice at Castallania, Malta
An 18th-century Lady Justice statue at the Castellania in Malta.

Since the 1500s, Lady Justice has often worn a blindfold. This blindfold means impartiality. It shows that justice should be given to everyone equally, no matter how rich or powerful they are.

The first Roman coins showed Justitia with a sword and scales, but her eyes were open. She only started to be commonly shown as "blind" in the mid-1500s. The first known statue of blind Justice was made by Hans Gieng in 1543. It is on the Fountain of Justice in Berne, Switzerland.

What Does the Sword Mean?

The sword that Lady Justice holds stands for authority. In ancient times, a sword showed power. It also means that justice can be quick and final once a decision is made.

What About the Toga?

Lady Justice often wears a Greco-Roman style robe, like those worn in ancient Greece and Rome. This clothing symbolizes the serious and thoughtful attitude that justice should have.

Lady Justice in Art

Lady Justice and her symbols are also used in heraldry. This means they appear on coats of arms, especially for government groups that deal with law.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Justicia (mitología) para niños

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