Nemesis was a a character in Greek mythology. She was also a recurring character in the 1995-1999 television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a television series, filmed in New Zealand and the United States. It was produced from 1995, and was very loosely based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles...

.

Mythological background

In mythology, Nemesis

Nemesis (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Nemesis , also called Rhamnousia/Rhamnusia at her sanctuary at Rhamnous, north of Marathon, was the spirit of divine retribution against those who succumb to hubris . The Greeks personified vengeful fate as a remorseless goddess: the goddess of revenge...

 was the Greek goddess of divine retribution

Retributive justice

Retributive justice is a theory of justice that considers that punishment, if proportionate, is a morally acceptable response to crime, with an eye to the satisfaction and psychological benefits it can bestow to the aggrieved party, its intimates and society....

. She acts as the executioner for the twelve Olympian Gods

Twelve Olympians

The Twelve Olympians, also known as the Dodekatheon , in Greek mythology, were the principal deities of the Greek pantheon, residing atop Mount Olympus. Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, and Hades were siblings. Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Athena, Apollo, and Artemis were children of Zeus...

, dealing out justice on those mortals who became too proud in their ways or in some way anger the Gods. Hera

Hera

Hera was the wife and one of three sisters of Zeus in the Olympian pantheon of Greek mythology and religion. Her chief function was as the goddess of women and marriage. Her counterpart in the religion of ancient Rome was Juno. The cow and the peacock were sacred to her...

 gave her this job because she, along with her father, sided with the Titans

Titan (mythology)

In Greek mythology, the Titans were a race of powerful deities, descendants of Gaia and Uranus, that ruled during the legendary Golden Age....

 in Zeus

Zeus

In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...

's war to overthrow his father in a struggle for power.

On television

In the television series, Nemesis and Hercules

Heracles

Heracles ,born Alcaeus or Alcides , was a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, foster son of Amphitryon and great-grandson of Perseus...

 were childhood friends and sweethearts and were shown as being married in the Season Two episode, The Fire Down Below. Nemesis helped Hercules save Iolaus

Iolaus

In Greek mythology, Iolaus was a Theban divine hero, son of Iphicles, Heracles's brother, and Automedusa.He was famed for being Heracles's nephew and for helping with some of his Labors, and also for being one of the Argonauts...

 from Hera's wrath in Season One's episode Pride Comes Before a Brawl

Pride Comes Before a Brawl

"Pride Comes Before a Brawl" is the seventh episode of the first season of the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Written by Steve Roberts and directed by Peter Ellis, it first aired in the United States on February 27, 1995.-Overview:...

. In Season Four's episode, Two Men and a Baby, Nemesis enlists the help of Hercules to protect her child, Evander, from his father. Evander was conceived after Ares

Ares (Hercules and Xena)

Ares is a character on the television shows Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Young Hercules. He was portrayed by New Zealand actor Kevin Tod Smith...

 promised Nemesis he would restore her to Godhood if she produced an heir for him.

Actresses who have portrayed Nemesis

• Young Hercules
  Young Hercules
  Young Hercules is a spin-off from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. It was aired on Fox Kids from September 12, 1998, to May 12, 1999. It lasted one season with 50 episodes and starred Ryan Gosling in the title role.-Plot:...
  
  , Episode #25, "Herc's Nemesis": Charmaine Guest (as young Nemesis).

In Hercules Legendary Journeys:

• Season One, Episode #7 "Pride Comes Before a Brawl
  Pride Comes Before a Brawl
  "Pride Comes Before a Brawl" is the seventh episode of the first season of the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Written by Steve Roberts and directed by Peter Ellis, it first aired in the United States on February 27, 1995.-Overview:...
  
  ": Karen Witter
  Karen Witter
  Karen Rachel Witter is an American model and actress. She was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for its March 1982 issue, and her centerfold was photographed by Arny Freytag. Witter later appeared on the cover of the March 1983 issue with fellow Playmates Kimberly McArthur and Kelly Tough...
  
  .
• Season Two, Episodes #9 "The Fire Down Below" and #13 "The Enforcer": Teresa Hill
  Teresa Hill
  Teresa Hill is an American actress and interior designer.She played Nemesis in the 1995-1999 television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.-External links:* * *...
  
  .
• Season Four, Episode #6 "Two Men and a Baby" and Season Six, Episode #8 "Full Circle": Kimberly Joseph.