Over time, Justice became associated with scales to represent impartiality and a sword to symbolize power. While Justice is frequently depicted wearing a blindfold, a female figure of Justice without a blindfold appears in one of the four sculpted frieze panels found inside the Courtroom.
Now, although Lady Justice statues may vary, the one characterization of Lady Justice that most are familiar with has three distinct features: a blindfold, the scales of justice and a sword. As one can imagine, these characteristics represent important ideas and values.
Portraying Justice as a female figure dates back to depictions of Themis and Justicia in ancient mythology. Themis, known for her clear-sightedness, was the Greek Goddess of Justice and Law. In Roman mythology, Justicia (Justice) was one of the four Virtues along with Prudence, Fortitude and Temperance.
The Symbols of Justice
Balance 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.
Lady Justice (Latin: Iustitia) is an allegorical personification of the moral force in judicial systems. Her attributes are scales, a sword and sometimes a blindfold. She often appears as a pair with Prudentia.
Lions are commonly associated with courage, power, royalty, dignity, authority, justice, wisdom, and ferocity.
Lady Justice is based on the Greek goddess Themis − honored as clear-sighted − and the Roman goddess Justicia − honored as representing the virtue of justice. She is blindfolded because justice is unbiased and should not be based on a person's appearance or other outside influences.
Traditionally, the scales are shown in balance, usually when they are held by Lady Justice (or Justitia, from the Roman goddess). This symbolizes giving fair and objective consideration to all evidence, without showing bias one way or the other.
This expression means that justice is impartial and objective. There is an allusion here to the Greek statue for justice, wearing a blindfold so as not to treat friends differently from strangers, or rich people better than the poor ones.
She was first sculpted with her blindfold by Hans Gieng, a Renaissance sculptor, in the late 15th century. The blindfolded Lady Justice represents a theory in law: blind justice.
Lady Justice tattoos are a dramatic sight and often incredibly powerful! She is an iconic image in law and morality across the globe! Lady Justice a symbol and image of the moral force in judicial systems, she is the amalgamation of the Roman goddess of Justice Iustitia and her Greek equivalent Themis, among others.
There can no longer be any doubt that America's justice system is not blind. Indeed, as today's report from the nation's oldest, largest and most diverse civil and human rights coalition reveals, 'lady justice' sees skin color all too well.
SYMBOLISM: Dark blue is the color associated with the Department of Justice. Gold represents excellence and achievement. Red, white and blue, our national colors, are for patriotism and the love of freedom.
The equals sign (British English, Unicode) or equal sign (American English), formerly known as the equality sign, is the mathematical symbol =, which is used to indicate equality in some well-defined sense.
Perhaps the most ancient symbol associated with the law is also one of the most familiar, the Scales of Justice. Symbolizing the impartial deliberation, or weighing, of two sides in a legal dispute, scales are found both inside and outside the Supreme Court Building.
The scales of justice are about fairness in court cases. There are two sides to every story, and each side of a case or a story must be heard. Each side gets the chance to present “evidence”, or the details about the case. Lady Justice carefully “weighs” the claims of each side, using the scales of justice handout.
A beam scale is often used to represent the scales of justice. Since the first modern-day legal system began in Rome, the scales of justice have been used to symbolize the balance between truth and fairness sought after in the justice system.
Scales are usually symbolic in terms of the Scales of Justice; they are balance, equality, justice, and harmony. In terms of FISH, scales are likened to a suit of ARMOR, signifying protection.
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.
Lady Justice is a well-known symbol of our justice system. She proudly holds scales, which represent the weighing of evidence on its own merit. There is a snake at her feet that represents evil, and a book that represents the Constitution from which our justice system was born.
Modeled on both Greek and Roman goddesses, Lady Justice is often depicted as a woman, blindfolded, holding a set of scales and a scroll. Her Greek predecessor, Themis, was the goddess of divine law and order, and said to be one of Zeus's (the central figure of the Greek gods) close advisors.
Ištaran is a male deity associated with justice. This role can be inferred from his assertion of the borders of Umma and Lagaš, while Gudea (ca. 2144-2124 BCE), the ruler of Girsu, said of himself, "I justly decide the lawsuits of my city like Ištaran" (ETCSL 2.1. 7, line 273).
Themis is the Greek goddess of law and represents law, order, and justice. According to Greek mythology, Themis was gifted with foresight and prophecy, and she was extremely wise. She is thought to be one of the most influential Greek goddesses due to her influence over other deities and the human realm.