Nemesis (mythology)

Nemesis (in Greek, Νέμεσις), also called Rhamnousia/Rhamnusia ("the goddess of Rhamnous"), at her sanctuary at Rhamnous, north of Marathon, in Greek mythology was the spirit of divine punishment against those who succumb to hubris, vengeful fate personified as a remorseless goddess. The name Nemesis is related to the Greek word νείμειν, meaning "to give what is due".The godess Nemesis was a personification of the resentment aroused in men by those who commited crimes with apparent impunity, or who had inordinate good fortune.Nemesis directed human affairs in such a way as to maintain equilibrium. Her name means she who distributes or deals out. Happiness and unhappiness were measured out by her, care being taken that happiness was not too frequent or too excessive. If this happened, Nemesis could bring about losses and suffering. As one who checked extravagant favours by Tykhe (Fortune), Nemesis was regarded as an avenging or punishing divinity.
Nemesis was often sometimes depicted as a winged goddess. Her attributes were apple-branch, rein, lash, sword, or balance.

Nemesis is now often used as a term to describe one's worst enemy, normally someone or something that is the exact opposite of oneself but is also somehow similar.


Nemesi viene dal greco νέμεσις (nèmesis), derivato dal verbo νέμω (nèmo, "distribuire"), dalla radice indoeuropea nem-.

La parola viene usata con il significato "vendetta", "castigo" per scrittori come Erodoto, Claudio Eliano (Varia historia) e Plutarco. Nella Theologumena arithmeticae di Giamblico ha il valore numerale di 5.

La parola ha il valore di "giustizia compensatrice" o "giustizia divina". Infatti originariamente la dea greca distribuiva gioia o dolore secondo il giusto. L'idea che soggiace al termine è che il mondo risponda ad una legge di armonia.

Η ετυμολογία, η ρίζα του ονόματος «νέμω», δήλωνε αρχικά τη δίκαιη διανομή, τη μοιρασιά που γίνεται βάσει νόμιμης εξουσίας. Με τον καιρό απέκτησε τη σημασία της ανάληψης δικαστικής δράσης εκ μέρους της εξουσίας, ώστε να απονεμηθεί δικαιοσύνη. Ως λέξη η «Νέμεσις» έχει αντικειμενική αξία και όχι υποκειμενική. Αναφέρεται στο φορέα της εξουσίας που την ασκεί. Μεταφορικά λέγοντας «Νέμεσι» εννοούμε τη θεία δίκη.

Ήταν η Νύχτα σύμφωνα με τη θεογονία του Ησίοδου και τον Παυσανία, που δίχως σύντροφο αρσενικό γέννησε την Νέμεσι, για να κρατά σε ισορροπία τις ανθρώπινες υποθέσεις. Στα Διονυσιακά του Νόννου έχουμε μια διαφορετική άποψη, που θέλει την Νέμεσι κόρη του Ωκεανού, ενώ ο Υγίνος την περιγράφει ως δημιούργημα του Ερέβους και της Νύχτας.