Editing Weighing scale (section)

===Symbolism===
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[[File:Statue of Justice, Central Criminal Court, London, UK - 20030311.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|"Lady Justice" holding a 2-pan balance beam scale, and a sword: Statue of Justice, Central Criminal Court, London, UK]]
The [[Scales of Justice (symbol)|scales]] (specifically, a two-pan, beam balance) are one of the traditional symbols of [[justice]], as wielded by statues of [[Lady Justice]]. This corresponds to the use in a metaphor of matters being "held in the balance". It has its origins in ancient Egypt.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Andrew |date=2023-04-13 |title=The History of Weighing Scales: From Ancient Times to Modern Day |url=https://www.mws.ltd.uk/the-history-of-weighing-scales/ |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=MWS Weighing Solutions |language=en-US}}</ref>

Scales also are widely used as a symbol of finance, commerce, or trade, in which they have played a traditional, vital role since ancient times. For instance, balance scales are depicted in the seal of the [[U.S. Department of the Treasury]] and the [[Federal Trade Commission]].

<gallery>
Seal of the United States Department of the Treasury.svg|Seal of the U.S. Department of the Treasury
Seal of the United States Federal Trade Commission.svg|Seal of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission
</gallery>

Scales are also the symbol for the astrological sign [[Libra (astrology)|Libra]].

Scales (specifically, a two-pan, beam balance in a state of equal balance) are the traditional symbol of [[Pyrrhonism]] indicating the equal balance of arguments used in inducing [[epoche]].<ref>Sarah Bakewell, ''How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer'' 2011 p 127 {{ISBN|1590514831}}</ref>