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{{for|the British judicial office whose holders are sometimes referred to as "Lady Justice"|Court of Appeal judge (England and Wales)}} {{for|the British judicial office whose holders are sometimes referred to as "Lady Justice"|Court of Appeal judge (England and Wales)}}
{{redirect|Justitia}} {{redirect|Justitia}}
], ]]]
[[File:HK Central Statue {{short description|Personification of justice}}
{{for|the British judicial office whose holders are sometimes referred to as "Lady Justice"|Court of Appeal judge (England and Wales)}}
{{redirect|Justitia}}
], ]]]


'''Lady Justice''' ({{lang-la|Iustitia}}) is an ] ] of the moral force in judicial systems.<ref>Hamilton, Marci. '''', page 296 (Cambridge University Press 2005): "The symbol of the judicial system, seen in courtrooms throughout the United States, is blindfolded Lady Justice."</ref><ref>Fabri, '''', page 137 (IOS Press 2000): "the judicial system is intended to be apolitical, its symbol being that of a blindfolded Lady Justice holding a balanced scales."</ref> Her attributes are a blindfold, ], and a sword. She often appears as a pair with ]. '''Lady Justice''' ({{lang-la|Iustitia}}) is an ] ] of the moral force in judicial systems.<ref>Hamilton, Marci. '''', page 296 (Cambridge University Press 2005): "The symbol of the judicial system, seen in courtrooms throughout the United States, is blindfolded Lady Justice."</ref><ref>Fabri, '''', page 137 (IOS Press 2000): "the judicial system is intended to be apolitical, its symbol being that of a blindfolded Lady Justice holding a balanced scales."</ref> Her attributes are a blindfold, ], and a sword. She often appears as a pair with ].
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===Scales=== ===Scales===
Lady Justice is most often depicted with a set of scales typically suspended from one hand, upon which she measures the strengths of a case's support and oppositio not a reliable source been holding level the balance of Dike (Justice).</blockquote> this is not a reliable source Lady Justice is most often depicted with a set of scales typically suspended from one hand, upon which she measures the strengths of a case's support and opposition.


The Greek goddess Dike is depicted holding a set of scales.
The scales represent the weighing of evidence, and the scales lack a foundation in order to signify that evidence should stand on its own.


Bacchylides, Fragment 5 (trans. Campbell, Vol. ''Greek Lyric IV'') (Greek lyric c. 5th B.C.):
===Blindfold===
], ]]]
Since the 16th century, Lady Justice has often been depicted wearing a blindfold. The blindfold represents ], the ideal that justice should be applied without regard to wealth, power, or other status. The earliest Roman coins depicted Justitia with the sword in one hand and the scale in the other, but with her eyes uncovered.<ref>See "The Scales of Justice as Represented in Engravings, Emblems, Reliefs and Sculptures of Early Modern Europe" in G. Lamoine, ed., ''Images et representations de la justice du XVie au XIXe siècle (Toulouse: University of Toulose-Le Mirail, 1983)" at page 8.</ref> Justitia was only commonly represented as "blind" since the middle of the 16th century. The first known representation of blind Justice is ]'s 1543 statue on the '']'' (Fountain of Justice) in ].<ref>].</ref>


<blockquote>If some god had been holding level the balance of Dike (Justice).</blockquote>
Instead of using the ] approach, many sculptures simply leave out the blindfold altogether. For example, atop the ] courthouse in ], a statue of Lady Justice stands without a blindfold;<ref>].</ref> the courthouse brochures explain that this is because Lady Justice was originally not blindfolded, and because her "maidenly form" is supposed to guarantee her impartiality which renders the blindfold redundant.<ref>Colomb, Gregory. '''', p. 50 (Penn State Press, 1992).</ref> Another variation is to depict a blindfolded Lady Justice as a human scale, weighing competing claims in each hand. An example of this can be seen at the Shelby County Courthouse in ].<ref>].</ref>

===Sword===
The sword represented authority in ancient times, and conveys the idea that justice can be swift and final.<ref name="oureverydaylife">{{cite web|url=http://peopleof.oureverydaylife.com/symbolism-lady-justice-8578.html|title=Symbolism of Lady Justice|author=Brent T. Edwards|access-date=24 February 2017}}</ref>

===Toga===
The ] garment symbolizes the status of the philosophical attitude that embodies justice.<ref name=oureverydaylife/>{{Unreliable source?|date=February 2017}}

==In computer systems==
{{infobox symbol
|name= Scales
| mark = ⚖
|unicode = {{unichar|2696|Scales|html=}}
|see also =
}}
] version 4.1.0 implemented a symbol at ] U+2696 that may be used to represent the scales of justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unicode.org/Public/4.1.0/ucd/UnicodeData.txt|title=Unicode Data-4.1.0|access-date=2020-09-28}}
</ref>

==In art==
===Sculpture===
<gallery mode="packed" widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Berner Iustitia.jpg|Lady Justice with sword, scales and blindfold on the ] in ], Switzerland—1543
File:A Justica Alfredo Ceschiatti Brasilia Brasil.jpg|''The Justice'', in front of the ]
File:Pediment courthouse, Rome, Italy.jpg|Lady Justice seated at the entrance of The ], Italy
File:Justitia1.jpg|Sculpture of Lady Justice on the ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Frankfurt)|de|3=Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Frankfurt am Main)}}'' in ], Germany
File:Justicia Ottawa.jpg|''Justitia'', outside the ], ], ], Canada
File:Statue of Justice, Central Criminal Court, London, UK - 20030311.jpg|The Central Criminal Court or ], ], UK
File:Itojyuku themis.jpg|Themis, Itojyuku, ], Japan
File:Justice statue.jpg|19th-century sculpture of the ''Power of Law'' at ], ]—lacks the blindfold and scales of Justice, replacing the latter with a book

File:Law place du Palais-Bourbon Paris.jpg|''The Law'', by ]
File:JMR-Memphis1.jpg|Shelby County Courthouse, ], United States
File:Goddess of justice.jpg|Themis, outside the ], ], ], Australia
File:NewarkJustice1.jpg|'']'' by ], ], ]
File:Justitia szobra a Kúria épületében.jpg|''Justitia'' in the Superior Courts Building in ], Hungary.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Statues of Lady Justice in Hungary: Representation of Justitia in town halls, courthouses, and other public spaces |url=http://www.clovekaspolocnost.sk/UserFiles/article/files/157501779302-takacs.pdf |first1 = Peter |last1= Takács |journal=Človek a Spoločnost | publisher= Széchenyi István University | location = Győr, Hungary |issn=1335-3608}}</ref>
File:Fronton oud gerechtsgebouw, Gent.jpg|Themis, Old courthouse, ], Belgium
File:Justice Statue Iran.jpg|''Justitia'', ], ], ]
File:Campinas, detalhe do Palácio da Justiça.jpg|''Justiça'', ] in front of Justice Palace, ], ]
File:Carl Spitzweg - Das Auge des Gesetzes (Justitia) - 1857.jpg|{{Interlanguage link multi|Justitia (Spitzweg)|de}}, ], 1857
</gallery>

===Painting===
<gallery mode="packed" widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Sala di costantino, giustizia.jpg|Fresco in the {{Interlanguage link multi|Sala di Costantino|it}}, ], ], c. 1520
File:Luca Giordano 013.jpg|], ] in Florence, 1684–1686
File:Gerechtigkeit-1537.jpg|''Gerechtigkeit'', ], 1537
</gallery>

==Heraldry==
Lady Justice and her symbols are used in heraldry, especially in the arms of legal government agencies.
<gallery mode="packed" widths="200px" heights="200px">
DEU Ilshofen COA.svg|Justitia in arms of Ilshofen in ]
Svea hovrätt vapen.svg|Scales and sword in the arms of a Swedish court of law
Hörby kommunvapen - Riksarkivet Sverige.png|Scales balanced on a sword in the arms of ]
Landskrona fulla vapen.svg|Prudentia and Justitia as supporters in the armorial achievement of ]
</gallery>
<gallery mode="packed" widths="200px" heights="200px" caption="Justice in numismatics">
File:US-Fractional (3rd Issue)-$0.50-Fr.1355.jpg|Justice holding scales, $0.50 U.S. ].
</gallery>

==See also==
===Goddesses of Justice and related concepts===
* (''Goddesses of Justice''): ], ], ], ], ], ]
* (''Goddesses of Injustice''): ]
* (''Aspects of Justice''):
** (''Justice'') ]/]/]/] (Lady Justice), ]
** (''Retribution'') ]/]/]
** (''Redemption'') ]/]/], ]/] (the ])
* ], ] goddess of justice
* ]
* ]

===Astronomy===
* ], ], ] and ], ] ]s all named for Astraea, Themis, Dike and Justitia, ] goddesses of justice.

===Notable programs===
* "Operation Lady Justice (])
===In fiction===
* ], a female ] law enforcer and psychic appearing in the British science fiction comics '']'' and the '']''.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Iustitia}}
* {{deadlink|date=March 2021}}
{{Roman religion}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Justice}}
]
]
]
]


'''Lady Justice''' ({{lang-la|Iustitia}}) is an ] ] of the moral force in judicial systems.<ref>Hamilton, Marci. '''', page 296 (Cambridge University Press 2005): "The symbol of the judicial system, seen in courtrooms throughout the United States, is blindfolded Lady Justice."</ref><ref>Fabri, '''', page 137 (IOS Press 2000): "the judicial system is intended to be apolitical, its symbol being that of a blindfolded Lady Justice holding a balanced scales."</ref> Her attributes are a blindfold, ], and a sword. She often appears as a pair with ].

Lady Justice originates from the personification of Justice in Ancient Roman art known as ''Iustitia'' or ''Justitia'',<ref name="treccani.it">{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/iustitia_(Enciclopedia-dell'-Arte-Antica)/|title=IUSTITIA|work=treccani.it}}</ref> who is equivalent to the Greek goddess ].

==The goddess Justitia==
The origin of Lady Justice was Justitia, the goddess of ] within ]. Justitia was introduced by emperor ], and was thus not a very old deity in the ].

Justice was one of the virtues celebrated by emperor ] in his '']'', and a temple of Iustitia was established in Rome by emperor ].<ref name="treccani.it" /> Iustitia became a symbol for the virtue of justice with which every emperor wished to associate his regime; emperor ] minted coins with the image of the goddess seated on a throne called ''Iustitia Augusta'', and many emperors after him used the image of the goddess to proclaim themselves protectors of justice.<ref name="treccani.it" />

Though formally called a goddess with her own temple and cult shrine in Rome, it appears that she was from the onset viewed more as an artistic symbolic personification rather than as an actual deity with religious significance.

==Depiction==
{{refimprove section|date=March 2015}}
]'' depicts a scene in which a deceased person's heart is weighed against the ].]]

The personification of justice balancing the ] dates back to the goddess ],<ref>{{Cite book |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/guidetoamericanl11west/page/686 |title=The Guide to American Law : Everyone's Legal Encyclopedia. |date=1983 |publisher=West Publishing Company |isbn=0314732241 |volume=11 |location=St. Paul |pages=687 |chapter=Apendix D: Legal Symbols of the Anglo-American Legal Tradition |oclc=9196541}}</ref> and later ], of ]. The ] deities ] and ] were later goddesses of justice. ] was the embodiment of divine order, law, and custom, in her aspect as the personification of the divine rightness of law.

===Scales===
Lady Justice is most often depicted with a set of scales typically suspended from one hand, upon which she measures the strengths of a case's support and oppositio not a reliable source been holding level the balance of Dike (Justice).</blockquote> this is not a reliable source


The scales represent the weighing of evidence, and the scales lack a foundation in order to signify that evidence should stand on its own. The scales represent the weighing of evidence, and the scales lack a foundation in order to signify that evidence should stand on its own.
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Revision as of 21:48, 16 February 2022

Personification of justice For the British judicial office whose holders are sometimes referred to as "Lady Justice", see Court of Appeal judge (England and Wales). "Justitia" redirects here. For other uses, see Justitia (disambiguation).
blindfolded lady with sword in right hand held vertically down to floor, and a set of balance scales in her left hand held neck high
Statue of Lady Justice blindfolded and holding a balance and a sword, outside the Court of Final Appeal, Hong Kong

Lady Justice (Template:Lang-la) is an allegorical personification of the moral force in judicial systems. Her attributes are a blindfold, scales, and a sword. She often appears as a pair with Prudentia.

Lady Justice originates from the personification of Justice in Ancient Roman art known as Iustitia or Justitia, who is equivalent to the Greek goddess Dike.

The goddess Justitia

The origin of Lady Justice was Justitia, the goddess of Justice within Roman mythology. Justitia was introduced by emperor Augustus, and was thus not a very old deity in the Roman pantheon.

Justice was one of the virtues celebrated by emperor Augustus in his clipeus virtutis, and a temple of Iustitia was established in Rome by emperor Tiberius. Iustitia became a symbol for the virtue of justice with which every emperor wished to associate his regime; emperor Vespasian minted coins with the image of the goddess seated on a throne called Iustitia Augusta, and many emperors after him used the image of the goddess to proclaim themselves protectors of justice.

Though formally called a goddess with her own temple and cult shrine in Rome, it appears that she was from the onset viewed more as an artistic symbolic personification rather than as an actual deity with religious significance.

Depiction

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead depicts a scene in which a deceased person's heart is weighed against the feather of truth.

The personification of justice balancing the scales dates back to the goddess Maat, and later Isis, of ancient Egypt. The Hellenic deities Themis and Dike were later goddesses of justice. Themis was the embodiment of divine order, law, and custom, in her aspect as the personification of the divine rightness of law.

Scales

Lady Justice is most often depicted with a set of scales typically suspended from one hand, upon which she measures the strengths of a case's support and opposition.

The Greek goddess Dike is depicted holding a set of scales.

Bacchylides, Fragment 5 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric IV) (Greek lyric c. 5th B.C.):

If some god had been holding level the balance of Dike (Justice).

The scales represent the weighing of evidence, and the scales lack a foundation in order to signify that evidence should stand on its own.

Blindfold

18th-century Lady Justice at the Castellania, Valletta

Since the 16th century, Lady Justice has often been depicted wearing a blindfold. The blindfold represents impartiality, the ideal that justice should be applied without regard to wealth, power, or other status. The earliest Roman coins depicted Justitia with the sword in one hand and the scale in the other, but with her eyes uncovered. Justitia was only commonly represented as "blind" since the middle of the 16th century. The first known representation of blind Justice is Hans Gieng's 1543 statue on the Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Fountain of Justice) in Bern.

Instead of using the Janus approach, many sculptures simply leave out the blindfold altogether. For example, atop the Old Bailey courthouse in London, a statue of Lady Justice stands without a blindfold; the courthouse brochures explain that this is because Lady Justice was originally not blindfolded, and because her "maidenly form" is supposed to guarantee her impartiality which renders the blindfold redundant. Another variation is to depict a blindfolded Lady Justice as a human scale, weighing competing claims in each hand. An example of this can be seen at the Shelby County Courthouse in Memphis, Tennessee.

Sword

The sword represented authority in ancient times, and conveys the idea that justice can be swift and final.

Toga

The Greco-Roman garment symbolizes the status of the philosophical attitude that embodies justice.

In computer systems

⚖
Scales
In UnicodeU+2696 ⚖ SCALES

Unicode version 4.1.0 implemented a symbol at code point U+2696 that may be used to represent the scales of justice.

In art

Sculpture

Painting

Heraldry

Lady Justice and her symbols are used in heraldry, especially in the arms of legal government agencies.

  • Justitia in arms of Ilshofen in Baden-Württemberg Justitia in arms of Ilshofen in Baden-Württemberg
  • Scales and sword in the arms of a Swedish court of law Scales and sword in the arms of a Swedish court of law
  • Scales balanced on a sword in the arms of Hörby Scales balanced on a sword in the arms of Hörby
  • Prudentia and Justitia as supporters in the armorial achievement of Landskrona Prudentia and Justitia as supporters in the armorial achievement of Landskrona

See also

Goddesses of Justice and related concepts

Astronomy

Notable programs

In fiction

References

  1. Hamilton, Marci. God vs. the Gavel, page 296 (Cambridge University Press 2005): "The symbol of the judicial system, seen in courtrooms throughout the United States, is blindfolded Lady Justice."
  2. Fabri, The challenge of change for judicial systems, page 137 (IOS Press 2000): "the judicial system is intended to be apolitical, its symbol being that of a blindfolded Lady Justice holding a balanced scales."
  3. ^ "IUSTITIA". treccani.it.
  4. "Apendix D: Legal Symbols of the Anglo-American Legal Tradition". The Guide to American Law : Everyone's Legal Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. St. Paul : West Publishing Company. 1983. p. 687. ISBN 0314732241. OCLC 9196541.
  5. See "The Scales of Justice as Represented in Engravings, Emblems, Reliefs and Sculptures of Early Modern Europe" in G. Lamoine, ed., Images et representations de la justice du XVie au XIXe siècle (Toulouse: University of Toulose-Le Mirail, 1983)" at page 8.
  6. Image of Lady Justice in Berne.
  7. Image of Lady Justice in London.
  8. Colomb, Gregory. Designs on Truth, p. 50 (Penn State Press, 1992).
  9. Image of Lady Justice in Memphis.
  10. ^ Brent T. Edwards. "Symbolism of Lady Justice". Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  11. "Unicode Data-4.1.0". Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  12. Takács, Peter. "Statues of Lady Justice in Hungary: Representation of Justitia in town halls, courthouses, and other public spaces" (PDF). Človek a Spoločnost. Győr, Hungary: Széchenyi István University. ISSN 1335-3608.

External links

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