CIRCA 1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.

Fortuna (Tyche to the Greeks), in addition to being a goddess of chance or luck, was also considered the bringer of fertility and abundance. A specific form of this goddess, Fortuna Redux, oversaw the return from a long or perilous journey. Her cult was introduced to Rome during the reign of Augustus on his return from Asia Minor in 19 B.C., when a new holiday was added to the calendar. After his death, the holiday was known as the Augustalia. Her attributes, as seen here, are the cornucopia, symbol of abundance, and a ship’s rudder resting on a globe. This subject was one of the most popular on gems and was also frequently employed on coins (see for example a bronze sestertius from the reign of Vespasian, pl. 67, no. 234 in J.P.C. Kent, Roman Coins). This gem is mounted as a ring in a 19th century gold setting.