TRAJAN.(98-117).Rome.Denarius.

Obv : IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GER DAC PARTHICO.
Laureate and draped bust right.

Rev : P M TR P COS VI P P SPQR / FORT RED.
Fortuna seated left on throne, holding rudder and cornucopia.
Woytek 559v.

Condition : This coin is in decent condition, showing signs of wear, particularly on the high points. The patina is a natural light gray, with some darker areas indicating its age. There are some minor surface cracks, but the details on both sides are still fairly sharp.Very fine.

Material : Silver.
Axis : 6h

Weight : 3.67 gr
Diameter : 20 mm

In Roman mythology, Fortuna was the goddess of fortune and luck, representing the unpredictable forces that governed both the prosperity and misfortune of individuals and entire nations. She was a highly revered deity, associated with fate and chance, and her influence extended across all aspects of life, from personal success and failure to the broader fortunes of the Roman state. Fortuna embodied the dual nature of luck, symbolizing both good and bad fortune, and her worship reflected the Roman understanding of the precariousness of life.

Fortuna's name is derived from the Latin word fors, meaning "chance," and she was seen as the personification of both the random and predetermined aspects of life. She governed the outcome of events that were beyond human control, whether they brought wealth, health, and happiness, or hardship, loss, and suffering. As a result, her presence was invoked in both hope and fear, with Romans seeking her favor to ensure success and prosperity while also attempting to avert her potential wrath.

Fortuna is often depicted in Roman art as a regal woman holding several key attributes, each symbolizing different aspects of her power over fate. One of her most common symbols is the **cornucopia**, or horn of plenty, which represents abundance and prosperity. This image emphasizes her role as the bringer of good fortune, distributing wealth and resources to those she favors. When Fortuna was generous, she could bestow wealth, success, and happiness, symbolized by the overflowing abundance of the cornucopia.

Another common symbol associated with Fortuna is the wheel, known as the Wheel of Fortune.The wheel represents the ever-changing nature of fortune, constantly spinning and bringing people from prosperity to poverty and vice versa. The image of Fortuna standing or sitting upon the wheel captures the idea that fortune is fickle, always shifting, and that no one can remain permanently in a position of wealth or misfortune. This symbol encapsulated the Roman view that life was inherently unstable and that fortune could change at any moment.

Fortuna is also depicted holding a rudder, guiding the course of human affairs like a ship's helmsman. This attribute emphasizes her power to steer the lives of individuals and the destiny of nations. The rudder suggests that Fortuna has control over the direction of events, reinforcing the belief that fortune is something beyond human control, yet it is capable of shaping one's fate, for better or for worse.

Finally, Fortuna is sometimes shown blindfolded, symbolizing the randomness and impartiality of luck. Blindfolded, she dispenses fortune without regard to merit or justice, reinforcing the idea that fortune is not always fair and can strike anyone, regardless of their moral standing or efforts. This image of blind Fortuna resonates with the unpredictability of life, where good people may suffer, and bad people may thrive, based solely on the whims of fate.

Fortuna's presence permeated both public and private life in ancient Rome. She was worshipped by individuals seeking her favor in their personal endeavors, whether in business, marriage, or health. It was common for Romans to offer sacrifices and prayers to Fortuna, particularly before significant undertakings such as military campaigns, business ventures, or long journeys. In her role as the goddess of luck, Fortuna was believed to have the power to tip the scales of success in favor of those who honored her.

Romans also recognized that Fortuna could bring misfortune as easily as she could bring good fortune. As a result, her worship often carried a tone of respect and even fear, as people sought to appease her capricious nature. Her power over human affairs was seen as both unpredictable and all-encompassing, leading people to hope that they could influence her favor through devotion and offerings. Fortuna was invoked during uncertain times, especially when the outcome of events seemed to be at the mercy of chance.

In addition to personal worship, Fortuna played a vital role in the public and political life of Rome. The state had its own official cults dedicated to Fortuna, and she was regarded as a protector of the Roman people. One of her most significant titles was Fortuna Populi Romani, or Fortune of the Roman People. As Fortuna Populi Romani, she was seen as the goddess who guarded the welfare of the entire Roman state, ensuring its success in war, its prosperity, and its protection from external threats. In this capacity, she was a symbol of Rome’s collective fate, and her favor was sought by emperors, generals, and political leaders alike.

The worship of Fortuna was institutionalized through the building of temples and shrines dedicated to her. One of the most famous was the **Temple of Fortuna Primigenia** in **Praeneste** (modern-day Palestrina), which was a major center for her worship. Fortuna Primigenia, meaning "Fortune of the Firstborn" or "First Mother," was an ancient aspect of the goddess that connected her to the concepts of birth and destiny. The temple at Praeneste became an important pilgrimage site, where people from all over the Roman world came to seek her blessings or divine insight through oracular consultation.

Fortuna was also honored in Rome itself. The **Temple of Fortuna Redux**, located near the Porta Capena, was dedicated to Fortuna's role in safely guiding travelers and soldiers back home. The title "Redux" refers to Fortuna’s power to bring people back safely from dangerous journeys, reinforcing her connection to the unpredictability of travel and fortune in general. The temple was often visited by returning generals and soldiers who had successfully completed military campaigns, and Fortuna Redux was honored for protecting them during their time away.

Fortuna's dual nature as both a benevolent and potentially malevolent force was central to Roman understanding of fate and destiny. Romans believed that while hard work, virtue, and planning were important, ultimately, one's success or failure depended on Fortuna’s favor. She could be generous, bestowing wealth, victory, and happiness, but she could also be cruel, bringing ruin, defeat, and disaster.

This ambivalence is captured in the concept of **Fortuna Victrix**, representing Fortuna as the goddess of victory. Fortuna Victrix was invoked by Roman generals and soldiers before battles, hoping that the goddess would grant them the fortune necessary to achieve victory over their enemies. However, Fortuna’s victory was not guaranteed, and the unpredictability of battle was often attributed to her capricious nature. In times of military defeat or political upheaval, Romans would reflect on how Fortuna's favor had shifted, leaving them vulnerable to disaster.

Similarly, Fortuna had an aspect known as **Fortuna Mala**, or "Bad Fortune," representing the destructive side of luck. Fortuna Mala was feared because of her ability to bring sudden misfortune, often without warning. Romans recognized that bad fortune could strike anyone at any time, and even the most powerful individuals and states were not immune to her whims.

Fortuna's unpredictable nature became a central theme in Roman literature and philosophy. The Roman philosopher **Seneca**, in his writings, often reflected on the fickleness of Fortuna, emphasizing that one must remain emotionally detached from both good and bad fortune. For Stoic philosophers like Seneca, the best way to deal with the unpredictability of life was through cultivating an inner strength that could withstand the highs and lows of Fortuna’s influence.

Roman emperors, in particular, sought to align themselves with Fortuna as a way of legitimizing their rule. By presenting themselves as favored by Fortuna, emperors could claim that their rise to power and their successes were divinely sanctioned. Fortuna became a key element of imperial propaganda, with many emperors issuing coins that depicted the goddess alongside symbols of wealth, victory, and prosperity.

For example, the Emperor **Augustus** frequently associated his rule with Fortuna, emphasizing that the prosperity and peace of his reign were due to Fortuna’s favor. He built temples in her honor, such as the **Temple of Fortuna Redux**, and issued coins that depicted the goddess bestowing victory and abundance upon the empire. This association with Fortuna helped to bolster Augustus’s image as the divinely chosen ruler who had brought Rome out of civil war and into a new era of peace and prosperity.

Later emperors continued to use Fortuna in this way, invoking her as a source of legitimacy and protection. Coins depicting **Fortuna holding a rudder** symbolized the emperor’s ability to steer the Roman state successfully, while those showing her **with a cornucopia** reinforced the idea that the emperor’s rule brought abundance and stability to the empire. Through these depictions, Fortuna became intertwined with the concept of imperial destiny, emphasizing that the emperor’s fortune was also the fortune of the Roman people.

In Roman mythology, **Fortuna** was a complex and powerful goddess who embodied both the promise of prosperity and the threat of ruin. As the goddess of fortune and chance, she held sway over every aspect of life, from personal success to the fate of empires. Her dual nature, as both a giver of good fortune and a bringer of misfortune, made her one of the most revered and feared deities in Roman religion.

Through her various aspects—Fortuna Victrix, Fortuna Redux, and Fortuna Populi Romani—she influenced both the individual and collective fates of the Roman people. Her temples, coins, and depictions in art were constant reminders of the precariousness of life and the importance of seeking her favor. In both private and public life, Fortuna played a central role in shaping the Roman understanding of fate, luck, and destiny. Whether invoked for success or appeased to prevent disaster, Fortuna’s influence was ever-present in the minds of the Roman people, symbolizing the uncertainty that governed their world.