I had thought that the only statue of Themis without her blindfold was
the NY cityhall, from the days of Tamany Hall (appropriately enough).
On Fri, 21 Mar 1997, Kendall Svengalis wrote:
> Paul Healey wrote:
> > Since Friday seems to be the day for trivia type questions....
> >
> > I couldn't help but notice that on the U.S. Courts home page
> > (http://www.uscourts.gov), the graphic of the goddess Themis appears
> > without her blindfold. I had always assumed that the blindfold was
> > integral to the myth. Well lo and behold, neither Britannica or
> > Americana make any mention of the blindfold, and the statue pictured
> > in Britannica is also clear eyed.
> >
> > Obviously my knowledge of the classics could use enhancement. So,
> > where does the blindfold come from? Is it part of the myth, or a
> > later addition? Can anyone say?
> >
> > Just curious...
> >
> > Paul D. Healey, M.A.(LIS), J.D.
> Dear Paul:
>
> One of our retired Supreme Court Justices had a similar interest in
> Themis without the blindfold. Although one can certainly appreciate the
> symbolism of Themis being blind to the identity of the parties involved
> in the dispensation of justice, this Supreme Court Justice viewed it on
> another level. She argued that a woman does not need a blindfold to
> serve the cause of justice. Accordingly, she asked me to research the
> existence of statues of Themis without the blindfold. Coincidentally, I
> discovered that one existed atop the Tippecanoe County Courthouse in
> Lafayette, Indiana, across the Wabash River from Purdue University, my
> alma mater. Other than the examples you cite, I had generally assumed
> that the unblindfolded Themis was the exception to the rule.
>
> Kendall Svengalis
Robert A. Jacoby
Assistant Law Librarian for LAN/Reference
George Mason University Law Library
(703) 993-8107
rjacoby1@osf1.gmu.edu
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