Williamson County courthouse statue Themis

The courthouse statue Themis,
the Greek goddess of divine justice

Georgetown, TX – March 16, 2006– On Thursday, workers removed the statue from the courthouse dome by crane and loaded it on to a trailer where it was taken to the county maintenance office and gently cleaned. The statue was on display at the Museum so that the public would have the opportunity for the first time to get a close-up view of the 96 year-old statue.

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The courthouse statue is a depiction of Themis, the Greek goddess of divine justice. She carries the level scales of justice in one hand and a sword in the other. In European depictions of this goddess, her eyes are often blindfolded. (The Williamson County Courthouse statue wears a blindfold.) In the United States, the Lady of Justice is a common architectural element, specifically used in courthouses or legal buildings. She is the symbol of fair administration of the law, free from corruption and prejudice.

The last time the statue was removed from the dome was in 2002 for repair and reinforcement. The statue is actually hollow and made of copper, weighing in at around 300 pounds and measuring 3’ in diameter and almost 11’ in height. Themis will be returned to her rightful perch atop of the Williamson County Courthouse in six to eight months, once construction on the dome is complete, but will reside in the museum until then for public viewing.

She's now being repaired view
PDF from story by the Williamson County Sun newspaper

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Themis (thē'mĭs) , in Greek religion and mythology, a Titan. Sometimes identified as an earth goddess, she was more commonly a goddess of law, order, and justice. She was the mother by Zeus of the Horae (the Seasons) and the Moerae (the Fates). It was also said that she was the mother of Prometheus by Iapetus.

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