Examples of Rewards for Goodness and Retribution for Evil in Ancient Roman Art
Who is Nemesis in Greek Mythology?
Nemesis was the goddess of Revenge, Retribution and Fortune, in Greek mythology. She enacts retribution against those who succumb to hubris, i.east., arrogance before the gods. She was besides called Adrasteia, meaning "the inescapable," or the "Goddess of Rhamnous" in recognition of her famous temple in the city Rhamnous. Nemesis was said to be the daughter of the primordial god Oceanus, but according to Hesiod, she was a child of Erebus and Nyx.
We've somewhat already discussed the topic of divine law and the pragmatic and unbiased approach taken by Themis when creating the laws that flesh and the gods governed past. But today, we'll be focusing on the goddess Nemesis and her drastically dissimilar view on penalization and retribution.
Parents of Nemesis
Nemesis was the goddess that would enact retribution against those who performed evil deeds or whom she perceived as heaven undeserved adept fortune. Like then many of the virtually ancient deities within Greek mythology, Nemesis was merely one of the many children of Nyx.
Although she was by and large depicted as having no male parent, some believe that her begetter could have been anyone from Oceanus to Erebus, to perhaps, even Zeus.
Meaning of Her Name—Nemesis
Nemesis went past several names, including Rhamnousia, the goddess of Rhamnous, an ancient coastal metropolis in Greece. And possibly, the most fitting, Adrestia, meaning the inescapable; we can assume referring to her inescapable wrath and retribution.
The named Nemesis itself was thought to mean "she who distributes" or "deals out". Once again, referring to her distribution of punishment, justice and retribution.
Children and Lovers of Nemesis
The children of Nemesis are a fairly debated topic. Helen of Troy is widely regarded to be the daughter of Zeus and the mortal woman Leda. Just in that location are tales where information technology was instead Nemesis that was considered Helen's mother.
In a concluding-ditch attempt to avoid the advances of Zeus, she turned herself into an creature—that animals a goose—but Zeus, being the ever-persistent god he was, transformed himself into a swan and mated of Nemesis.
In this bird form, she would lay an egg—an egg that will exist later constitute past a shepherd, who volition give this egg to Leda. Leda would go on this egg in a chest until it hatched, and when it did, she would raise her in Troy and presume the role of her mother.
Nemesis Role as a Goddess
Nemesis was seen as being able to measure ane'south happiness. She could come across whether that happiness was as well frequent or too excessive. If she accounted that this happiness was undeserved in some way, she would bring loss and suffering to even up the scales.
There's no dubiousness that the actions of Nemesis still appeared to exist somewhat calculated but nowhere almost the level of Themis. She was all the same known to act swiftly, with no pity or mercy.
We can see her as directing human affairs in a way that maintains the equilibrium; those exploiting others or shown excessive hubris towards the gods would be very quickly dealt with, ofttimes falling back in line.
Repeat and Narcissus
She was particularly known to concern herself with matters of love, and she makes an advent in the famous story of Echo and Narcissus.
Narcissus was extremely beautiful, only he was likewise extremely arrogant along with his dazzler, antisocial all those that cartel to fall in dear with him. This arrogance angered Nemesis, and then, she lured him into a pool, where he could see his reflection in the river. And upon doing so, he fell instantly in love with the image he saw, non knowing that it was, in fact, his own.
Unable to exit the beauty that was his reflection, he would eventually die. Nemesis saw the beauty that Narcissus was gifted as undeserved, and the way he treated those who dare to fall in love with him was enough for the goddess to intervene and, in her punishment, eventually caused his death.
Read the full story hither: Narcissus: The Story of Echo and Narcissus — A Tragic Story of Vanity
Depiction of Nemesis
Nemesis would oftentimes be depicted as a winged goddess, undoubtedly because information technology would make an escape in her pursuit near impossible. The ancient Greek poet, Mesomedes, wrote a hymn to Nemesis, where he addressed her as "Nemesis, winged balancer of life, dark-faced goddess, daughter of Justice."
She was known to acquit with her a sword, a lash, and a dagger, to enact punishment, just she would also carry scales, a measuring rod, and a bridle that she would sometimes use to ride her griffin (gryphon) drawn chariot.
In Decision
Nemesis was a deity in Greek mythology that almost had free rein to do as she pleased. The gods weren't known to punish mortals unless it was to make an instance of item individuals. This role of penalization and enforcing the law amongst mortals idea to a handful of goddesses, who for the nigh part did as Themis instructed them.
Nemesis being the goddess of revenge and retribution, was, of course, the exception. She would punish anyone who was seen as disrespecting the gods, and she was even seen as delivering skilful and bad fortune.
Image Sources: Wikipedia
Source: https://mythologyexplained.com/nemesis-in-greek-mythology/
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