Scales of Justice Tattoo Meaning: Balance, Libra and Lady Justice

Short answer: a scales of justice tattoo usually means fairness, truth and balance. The two pans show that both sides must be weighed equally before a decision is made. The image goes back to ancient Egypt, where a dead person’s heart was weighed against a feather of truth, and to the Greek and Roman goddesses of justice, who became today’s Lady Justice with her scales, sword and blindfold. Scales are also the sign of Libra, so many people born between late September and late October choose them. Lawyers and law students wear them for their work, and others wear them as a reminder to keep their life in balance.

Scales are one of the oldest symbols people still use every day, from courtrooms to star signs. Here is where the meanings come from and how to design a version that stays sharp.

Fairness and balance

A balance scale only works when both sides are treated the same, so it became the symbol of a fair judgment. As a tattoo it can stand for honesty, standing up for what is right, or the belief that actions are weighed in the end, a kind of karma. Many people also read it more personally: balance between work and rest, head and heart, or two cultures. In that sense it is close to the yin-yang, but with a focus on judgment and choice.

Ancient Egypt: the weighing of the heart

The Book of the Dead describes a judgment in the afterlife. The jackal-headed god Anubis placed the heart of the dead person on one pan of a scale and the feather of Ma’at, the goddess of truth and order, on the other. The scribe god Thoth wrote down the result. A heart lighter than or equal to the feather passed on to the afterlife; a heart heavy with wrongdoing was eaten by the monster Ammit. An Egyptian-style scales tattoo, often with a single feather, means living truthfully. See also our Anubis guide.

Greece and Rome: Lady Justice

The Greeks honoured Themis, the goddess of divine law and order, and her daughter Dike, who stood for human justice. The Romans called their goddess Iustitia, and from her came the Lady Justice statues that stand outside courthouses around the world. Each part of her has a meaning:

• Scales: weighing the evidence of both sides.
• Sword: the power to enforce the decision.
• Blindfold: judging without favour, whether someone is rich or poor, powerful or not. The blindfold became common in art from the 16th century.

A full Lady Justice makes a striking realistic piece, while the scales alone keep the meaning in a small, clean design.

Libra: the only object in the zodiac

Libra (about 23 September to 22 October) is the only zodiac sign shown as an object rather than a person or an animal. Babylonian astronomers already called this group of stars “the scales”, and the sun passes through it around the autumn equinox, when day and night are equal. Libras are said to be fair, diplomatic and drawn to beauty and harmony. A scales tattoo can be a subtle zodiac sign that does not look like one; see our Western zodiac guide for the other signs.

Faith: weighing souls

In Christian art, the archangel Michael is often painted holding a pair of scales at the Last Judgment, weighing souls. The Quran also speaks of the scales (mizan) that will weigh deeds on the Day of Judgment. For people of faith, scales can be a reminder that every action counts. You can find more faith symbols in our religious and spiritual symbols guide.

For lawyers and law students

Scales are the most common tattoo among people who work in law: lawyers, judges, paralegals, police and law graduates. Some choose a tiny pair on the wrist or ankle; others combine scales with a date, a Latin phrase such as fiat justitia (“let justice be done”) or a gavel. If you work in a formal profession, think about whether you want it visible; our guide to visible tattoos at work can help.

Design and placement

• Style: fine-line black-and-grey suits the delicate chains and ornate beam. Geometric lines, dotted circles and a small star add a modern, balanced frame.
• Balanced or tipped: level pans mean fairness and harmony; one pan lower can mean that something in life is unfair, or that one value (love, family, truth) weighs more than everything else. Some people put a heart in one pan and a feather in the other.
• Details: chains and pans need enough space between lines, or they blur into grey over the years. A forearm or calf gives the vertical shape room.
• Placement: inner forearm, upper arm, calf, sternum or along the spine. Costs depend on size and detail; see our forearm tattoo price guide.

At GOAT Tattoo Studio

Our gallery includes a fine-line scales of justice on the inner forearm: an ornate stand with a curling, decorated beam and two pans on thin chains, framed by dotted circles, straight horizontal lines and a small star with crosshairs at the top. During your consultation we can help you choose between a classic, ornate or minimal design and adjust the size to your arm.

If you would like a delicate design like this in Hanoi, our fine-line and small tattoo page shows prices, the artists who work in this style and recent pieces.