The Golden Themis

they set up temples and divine honors for her. The first shrine was erected to her in Boeotia at the river Cephissus, to which, after the flood, Deucalion and Pyrrha came, as Ovid writes in the first book of the Metamorphoses, so that they might consult the Goddess as to what reason they could repair the human race, which had perished in that flood, with these words:

Tell me, O Themis, by what art may the ruin of our race be repaired, and bring aid to the sunken world, most gentle one.

The Goddess was moved and gave her oracle: And what follows.
Regarding this same Themis, this allegory is told: Since she was of singular prudence, and in form also surpassed the other Nymphs of her age, she was loved by Jupiter; and although she had often refused his nuptials and avoided his company, at last, being found in Macedonia, she was compelled to marry him. Becoming pregnant, she bore Jupiter the Horas Seasons/Hours: Eunomia Good Order, Dike Justice, and Irene Peace. It is also said that she conceived from the same Jupiter Medium Fidium the middle faith/oath, who was called Sanctus Holy; and because they believed him to be set over faith, for that reason an oath made through his name had to be sacrosanct and inviolable. And the Roman Patricians used this sacrament, as it was fitting for that order, for it was a crime for every noble man to perjure himself. But although we know that no Themis ever lived on earth who was consulted after the flood and gave oracles, much less one who ascended into heaven as the heathens believed, we do not doubt that these things can be understood of the Idea of Justice or that general virtue which attributes to each his own.