Ancient Greek Etymology Series: Nemesis
What magic can be conjured up when two deep passions are entwined: a love for the origin of language and an adoration for Ancient Greek history and mythology. This series kicks off with the word ‘nemesis’. In our modern usage ‘nemesis’ can refer to someone or something that is the cause of one’s downfall or defeat. It can also be used to describe a situation or person that continually opposes or thwarts one's success, often implying a sense of inevitability.
The root of the word comes from the Greek verb νέμειν (némein), which means "to give what is due" or "to allot." This verb carries a sense of dispensing justice, especially by punishing wrongdoing or overstepping one's bounds. The true origin of the word though is Νέμεσις (Némesis) originally referred to the Greek goddess, Nemesis, in Greek mythology, she is the fearsome goddess of retribution, balance, and divine justice. She personifies the inescapable consequences of hubris (excessive pride) and arrogance, particularly when mortals overreach or believe themselves above the gods. Often depicted with large, imposing wings, Nemesis is a swift and merciless enforcer of cosmic order. She is usually shown holding symbols of justice: a sword to mete out punishment, a scourge to signify her role in delivering retribution, or scales to balance justice. Sometimes she is portrayed holding a wheel, symbolising the turning of fate. Her presence is always commanding, and her expression stern, reflecting her unswerving commitment to ensuring that the proud and unjust receive their due. Nemesis was believed to act not out of cruelty, but to correct the imbalance caused by excessive pride, ensuring the natural order remained intact.
In myth, Nemesis is most famously associated with the tale of Narcissus, the vain youth who became infatuated with his own reflection. Narcissus, who cruelly rejected all who loved him, including the nymph Echo, was ultimately punished by Nemesis for his arrogance and self-obsession. She lured him to a pool, where he fell in love with his reflection and wasted away, consumed by unrequited love for himself. In another myth, Nemesis plays a role in the story of Arachne, a skilled weaver who boasted that her talents surpassed even those of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and craft. Arachne’s hubris angered the gods, and Nemesis ensured that she faced divine retribution—Arachne was transformed into a spider to weave for eternity.
Nemesis also appears in more subtle forms of justice. She is said to have brought down kings, such as Croesus of Lydia, whose pride in his wealth led him to misjudge the gods’ will, ultimately leading to his downfall. Her role was not only to punish evil, but to restore harmony, reminding mortals that no one is beyond the reach of divine law.