GRIFFIN GRASPING THE WHEEL OF NEMESIS

Griffin grasping Nemesis’ wheel

The Greek Goddess of fate and revenge, Nemesis, is the personification of divine punishment of those guilty of arrogance. She was first portrayed as a female figure beside the wheel of fate,along with a griffin- a horned, winged creature with a beak and the body of a lion. Over time, however, Nemesis lost her anthropomorphic character and these two images came to represent the Goddess in and of themselves.The base of the sculpture above bears a Greek inscription that reads, “Year 522. I, Mercurios, son of Alexander, dedicate [ this statue ] during my priesthood.”

Nemesis and Zeus 

The word Nemesis originally meant the Distributor of fortune, neither good nor bad, simply in due proportion to each according to what was deserved. Later, Nemesis came to suggest the resentment caused by any disturbance of this right proportion, the sense of justice that could not allow it to pass unpunished.

In ancient Greece, griffins were considered as ferocious guardians, creatures with wisdom and power. Therefore ,a griffin is the most suitable guard for the Wheel of Nemesis.