Nemesis

Nemesis (from Greek nemo, "distribute"), the Greek goddess who distributed good and ill fortune, worshipped at Rhamnus, in Attica, and elsewhere. The Greek notion of proportion led them to believe that a constant balance is maintained in human affairs, and that, however diverse the lives of nations and individuals may appear, the amount of good and bad fortune in each is always equalised in the long run. Thus an unwonted access of prosperity is sure to be followed by a corresponding period of depression and ill luck. This notion became blended with the conception of Zeus as a jealous deity ever ready to punish the arrogance which springs from excessive good fortune. Hence Nemesis was regarded as the impersonation of stern retributive justice.