The Goddess Fortuna in Imperial Rome: Cult, Art, Text - University of ...

Trajan dedicated a Temple of Fortuna Omnium in Rome (location
unknown), on January first (Lydus, Mens. 4.7). 1135 The existence of this temple is
credible, since the veneration of Fortuna Panthea was an imperial
phenomenon. 1136 Furthermore, January first had long been associated with the
cult of Fortuna. Domitian venerated the cult of Fortuna Primigenia at Praeneste
annually as a way of commemorating the new year (Suet., Dom. 15), and the cult
of Augusta Stata Mater was likewise celebrated January first in Rome. 1137
Apparently, Hadrian also favored the figure of Fortuna and acknowledged
her role in his own ascendancy to the throne, setting direct precedents for the
Antonines. On a panel on the Arch of Trajan in Beneventum, a mural-crowned
woman, standing between Trajan and Hadrian, extends an arm toward Hadrian, as
if acknowledging (and symbolically representing) the succession from Trajan to
Hadrian. 1138 Fortuna also appears, wearing a mural crown, on a cameo in an
eagle-drawn chariot with Hadrian (sometimes identified as Julian the Apostate)
crowning him with a wreath. 1139
Hadrianic coinage underlines the same relationship between the emperor
and Fortuna in a number of novel representations. Fortuna shakes hands with
1135 LTUR (1995) J. Aronen, “Fortuna ),” II.273, Richardson (1992) 155.
1136 Fears (1981c) 933ff.
1137 LTUR (1995) L. Chioffi, “Fortuna Stata,” II.278, Richardson (1992) 157-158.
1138 The scene is interpreted in many ways. Simon (1979/ 1980), Kleiner (1992) 224-229 fig. 193,
Rausa (1997) 133.120, Torelli (1997).
1139 Strong (1990) 308 fig. 246, Smith (1994) 99 fig. 68.
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