Bona Fortuna

Fortuna, the personification of fate, chance, or luck, was the daughter of

Jupiter and the sister of the Fates. As a representation of the variability

of life, Fortuna was sometimes portrayed with a wheel, whose turning

reflected the instability of prosperity. In other representations, Fortuna

held a double rudder (the lucky and the unlucky), had her eyes covered

(blind luck), held or stood on a ball (the roll of luck), or held a

cornucopia (prosperity). Fortuna's worship was widespread, and her major

festival was held on June 24. A temple to Fortuna, located between the Forum

Boarium and the Forum Romanum, was dedicated by Servius Tullius, burned in

213 B.C.E., and was restored a year later.