Fate. Luck. Chance. But also plenty, the way home, and a peace in the city. She was worshipped by the poor and rich rulers alike. Everyone, slave or emperor, wanted to tip the scales in their favor. Fortuna, the Roman goddess of luck.
In her Greek form as the goddess Tyche, she often wore a crown made of city walls on her head because she protected the cities. Her parents were the titans Okeanos and Tethys. Some said she was a sea nymph; others believed her father was directly the supreme god Jupiter.
How is it that the country is swept away by droughts, sometimes storms and floods, and other misfortunes? Of course, this doing of the gods – and the fickleness of fate was most embodied by Fortuna. In some sources, she is even intertwined with the Egyptian Isis. Archaeologists have discovered her on ancient coins, and some ancient historians claimed that she invented the first pair of playing dice.
Later, she began to appear with a blindfold because fortune is blind (be careful not to confuse her with Justice – Justice held the scales in her hand, while Fortuna held the wheel of fortune or the cornucopia, horn of plenty). She was also given other names, such as Eudaimonia or Automatia. It was very unwise to go on a voyage or to war and forget about this goddess. That would bring great misfortune. She protected the grain in the fields (Fortuna Annonaria), the emperor (Fortuna Augusta), marital happiness (Fortuna Virilis), adolescents (Fortuna Barbata), or perhaps even baths (Fortuna Balnearis). The Romans worshipped Fortuna in various aspects for specific occasions.
Although there was no special “Fortuna for gambling“, her general influence on luck meant that gamblers turned to her for good fortune with every bet. Just as before at battle or a journey, her favor was sought before a game. In ancient times, betting was very passionate – whether on gladiatorial matches, horse races, or when playing dice. The dice were called tesserae, and Fortuna herself could guide the player’s hand.
The oldest temples were still standing when Rome was a small and insignificant village. A larger temple was built when Rome won the war against the Etruscans; it was their token of gratitude. Her most beautiful temple was in Praeneste, which still exists today. According to legend, the first to worship Fortuna was Servius Tullius, an Etruscan slave who became the Roman king.
Fortuna’s feast was celebrated in the second half of June, on the Christian Midsummer’s Day. After the necessary sacrifices, the participants could get drunk with wine and have fun. She was therefore also the goddess of festivals. Evidence of her influence has been found in northern Scotland. She was also able to interfere with the activities of other gods, changing the course of fate.
It is interesting that the ancient Romans associated the concepts of luck, virtue, and morality. Whoever was not virtuous and was corrupt inside could not have luck. Fortune favored the prepared – and those with a clean shield. Only a just and hardworking person could call on her help. She did not help anyone forever. She was very fickle and constantly turned the wheel of fortune. Thus, good and bad times alternate in the lives of all people, but also entire nations.
