Lady of Justice Statue Artwork Quiz

Study Notes

Lady of Justice Statue

Lady of Justice statues can be found in courthouses, law offices, and educational institutions across the world, including North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southern and Eastern Asia, and Australasia.

History of Lady Justice

The concept of Lady Justice dates back to ancient Greek and Egyptian times.
In ancient Greece, Themis represented law, order, and justice, while in ancient Egypt, Ma'at symbolized order and truth.
The Roman goddess of justice, Justitia, is the most direct comparison to Lady Justice.

Appearance of Lady Justice

Lady Justice is typically depicted as a woman standing or sitting, dressed in a toga-like robe, often barefoot, with flowing or braided hair.
She holds a balance or two-tray scale in one hand and a sword in the other, often with the scales in her left hand and the sword in her right.
Sometimes, she wears a blindfold over her eyes.

Origins of the Lady Justice Statue

Early images similar to Lady Justice date back to the Egyptian goddess Maat, who symbolized truth and order.
The ancient Greeks worshipped Themis, the personification of divine law and custom, and her daughter Dike, who represented justice and carried a pair of balance scales.

Symbols of Justice

Balance Scales

Represent impartiality and the obligation of the law to weigh evidence presented to the court.

Sword

Symbolizes enforcement, respect, and the ability to take action.
The double-edged blade signifies that justice can rule against either party once evidence has been considered.

Blindfold

First appeared on a Lady Justice statue in the 16th century.
Originally signified the judicial system's tolerance of abuse or ignorance of the law.
In modern times, represents impartiality and objectivity, unaffected by outside factors such as politics, wealth, or fame.

Description

Test your knowledge on artwork depicting the Lady of Justice statue, whether in paintings, sculptures, coats of arms, or metal statues found worldwide in courthouses, law offices, and legal institutions. Learn about the history and symbolism behind the Lady Justice statue.