RX014
Roman silver figurine of Tyche-Fortuna.
3rd???4th century AD.
H. 6.4 cm (2.5 in.)
Missing part of rudder in right hand.
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Tyche- the Greek, Fortuna- the Roman, goddess of fortune and luck, and the personification of the city. She is standing frontal, wearing a mural crown and dressed with a long chiton and himation, that is draped gracefully over her left shoulder, left arm and around her right hip. Her right hand extends down to hold the rudder and her left hand holds the cornucopia, the horn of plenty.
The goddess is standing is a majestic posture. Her head with centrally parted wavy hair, falling at the back with a twist of hair. Her face with engraved features, with round eyes, straight nose and small lips.
The figure is standing frontal and frozen with rather schematic details, as typical to the period.
Her attributes symbolize her characteristics as a goddess: the crown is the city wall crown to indicate that she was the personification of the city; the rudder indicates that she was controlling the luck and the cornucopia indicates that she was the goddess of fortune.
Cf. Bronze statuette of the goddess Fortuna, ca. 2nd century AD, MMA Collection, no. 96.9.400.
Bronze figure of Fortuna, 1st – 3rd century AD, British Museum Collection, no. 1824,0435.3.
For Tyche-Fortuna in silver:
Silver statuette of the goddess Fortuna, ca. 200-225 AD, British Museum Collection, no. 1890,0923.16.
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