UNDER CONSTRUCTION

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Themiton, St. Ives, and Devilling Defined

So what's a "themiton?" Who is St. Ives? And what is all this devil-business?

You've seen pictures or statues of "Justice" - often represented as a blindfolded woman with scales and perhaps a sword. This same representation is that given to the Greek goddess Themis. A themiton is a body of law handed down, typically straight from the gods. Sometimes Themis is pictured with a themiton - some tome of law - sometimes, even the decalogue.

St. Ives, or St. Yvos, is the patron saint of lawyers.

"Devilling" is the practice of learning legal advocacy back in Britain. "Devils" are law-students who learn from "devil-masters."

At any rate, perhaps the juxtaposition of pagan, Christian, and archane references in the web address and page title makes more sense now.

"We, and no others, carry the burden of making the law worth having - over the long run, and from day to day.... The pressure to let the burden slide will fall so soon on you.... There will be very few of you who will resist it. But twenty years from now it will give pleasure, it will give foolish pride, it will give honor, to meet those few and take them by the hand."

- Karl Llewellyn, Bramble Bush