FORTUNA: Roman Goddess of Fortune and Luck
Shrine written by Kimberly F. Moore
“Fortune favours the bold.” ~ Latin proverb
The ancient Roman Goddess of fortune and luck is Fortuna, sister to Tyche in Greece. She was sometimes depicted as blinded or veiled as we see Justice. The name Fortuna is rooted in the Latin fero, meaning “to bring, win, receive, or get”. One thing to remember with this Goddess of Fortune, is she can be good fortune or bad fortune. Cultivate her good graces!
As the daughter of the God Jupiter, she can bring bounty and prosperity if she smiles on you. Fortuna is/was a very popular Goddess, with many trying to court her favor. In the Greco-Egyptian world, Fortuna was syncretized with Isis as was Tyche.
Her source may have been the Etruscan Goddess of Fate, Nortia, who was winged and Fortuna is sometimes also described as winged. According to Roman legend, She will remove Her wings and sandals when She wants to stay with people for awhile.
Fortuna Augusta (She Who Keeps the Emperor Fortunate and Fertile) was an aspect only invoked by the Roman Emperors. They kept their personal Fortuna’s in their sleeping quarters, hoping she would bring good fortune to their reign.
“Anyone with particularly good or bad luck was said to have her or his own “Fortuna.” Fortuna even had Her own oracular shrines. Her symbols include the Wheel of Fate, a sphere representing the World that She rules, the cornucopia of plenty, and a rudder with which She steers Fate. When Fortuna is depicted specifically as Isis Fortuna, She also wears the horns and disk crown of the abundant Egyptian Cow Goddess; thus reuniting the Egyptian symbols of cow and rudder in the figure of the Goddess Isis.” ~ M. Isidora Forrest
OTHER ASPECTS OF FORTUNA
Fortuna Balnearis - Fortuna of the Baths - also corresponds to Fortuna Salutaris who is the Health Bringing Fortuna. This Fortuna aspect was frequently found in military bath houses, especially as the Romans were quite focused on good hygiene. Call upon Fortuna Balnearis and Salutaris to invite good health into your life.
Fortuna Bona and Fortuna Mala - Good Fortune and Bad Fortune - Fortune in itself is neutral territory. It can move up or down, be good or bad. Fortuna Bona is good fortune and the other side of that figurative coin is Mala, bad fortune. There are other aspects of Fortuna that delineate the positive and negative, as well as the fickle nature of the Goddess Fortuna. A few are:
Fortuna Brevis is brief fortune that does not last.
Fortuna Dubia is dubious Fortune.
Fors Fortuna is lucky chance.
Fortuna Manens is Enduring Fortune, certainly a more favorable form to call!
Fortuna Conservatrix is an aspect that means "Fortuna the Preserver", "Fortuna the Defender" or "Fortuna the Protectress". Juno had this aspect as well.
Fortuna Privata assists and protects personal life in the home.
Fortuna Redux may have started as a Goddess who primarily made sure the Emperor got home alive, but it seems it was not long before She was invoked to bring others home safely, especially soldiers, as one might expect. Several altars dedicated to Her have been found in Brittania, the frontier of the Empire, especially in the area up by Hadrian's Wall, the very northern limit of Rome's power. They commonly come from military bath-houses, and She is sometimes mentioned along with Fortuna Salutaris ("Health-bringing Fortune") and Fortuna Balnearis ("Fortuna of the Bath-House"). At the Roman fort of Cilurnum on Hadrian's Wall (the modern Chesters, Northumbria, England), Fortuna Redux shared an altar with Aesculapius, the God of Health (the Greek Asklepios); and Her company on these altars imply that She was considered a Goddess who had healing powers, or who at least had the power to preserve health and wholeness, so that Her worshippers would be able to come home. ~ Thalia Took
Fortuna Redux - Home Bringer - Redux meaning "coming home" or "bringing". Fortuna Redux was especially popular among Roman soldiers on military campaigns. This is a later aspect of Fortuna but had a formal altar dedicated to her as Redux by the Emperor Augustus in 19 bce. Altar rites were performed for Augustus at her altar on October 12 and then the altar dedication date was recorded for December 15. Both may be held as Feast Days for Fortuna Redux.
Fortuna Virilis celebrations embody life-long love and attraction in marriage, and the oracle of Fortuna Primigenia is for newborn babies and mothers.
HOLYDAYS
January 1- Good Fortune for the New Year
February 5 - St. Agatha’s Day
April 1 - Join HolyDay with the Goddess Venus
June 11 - Day consecrated to her
June 24 - Festival of Fors Fortuna
October 12 - Fortuna Redux
December 15 - Fortuna Redux
RULES OVER
Fortune (good and bad)
Fortune-telling
Oracles
SYMBOLS
Cornucopia - for abundance
Ball/Globe - symbolizes chance
Rudder - to steer Fate
Wheel - luck is always changing
Symbols according to the aspect you are working with
ALTAR/OFFERINGS
Colors - white, gold, yellow, green
Coins
Wheel of Fortune card in the tarot
Oak rods with fortunes written on them
Ancient offerings were made on the bank of the River Tiber so river offerings would be appropriate
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