Also called Fors Fortuna, Fortuna Primigenia, Tyche (Greek).
Their story
Fortuna had many cults in Rome, most linked to King Servius Tullius, a slave's son whose rise was her favour made visible. On 24 June crowds rowed garlanded boats down the Tiber to her temples and returned tipsy. Livy tells how the women who turned Coriolanus back from attacking Rome were honoured with a temple to Fortuna Muliebris. At Praeneste her great sanctuary gave oracles by drawing lots cut in oak.
Best times to give to them
- Fors Fortuna, 24 June
- Fortuna Virilis, 1 April
- Fortuna Primigenia, 25 May
- New ventures
What they like being given
- A coin
- Fruit
- Incense
- Wine or grape juice
How to honour them
- Set a coin on the altar before a new venture.
- Thank her for good luck as readily as you ask for it.
- Spin a small wheel or coin as a reminder that fortune turns.
How they can help you
- Luck in new ventures
- Weathering reversals
- Prosperity
Symbols
- wheel
- rudder
- cornucopia
- globe
Each of her many titles marked a different cult with its own date.
Sources
- Ovid, Fasti 6
- Livy 2.40
- Cicero, De Divinatione 2.85-87
More Roman goddesses
- Juno Queen of heaven and protector of women
- Minerva Patron of craftworkers, teachers and healers
- Venus Mother of the Roman people and goddess of love
- Diana Lady of the woodland grove and the moon
- Vesta The living flame at the heart of home and Rome
- Ceres Mother of the grain and friend of the common people
- Luna The moon, shining through the night
- Libera Partner of Liber in the Aventine triad