Fortuna – The Sacred and Profane Faces of Luck by Nigel Pennick
I have read Fortuna – The Sacred and Profane Faces of Luck by Nigel Pennick. Last year, I made a video about another book by Pennick, namely The Pagan Book of Days (which I liked) – therefore, I decided to read Fortuna as well. On a personal note, I have never gambled and I do not endorse gambling. I have, however, been an Enjoyer of Warhammer for a long time – all Warhammer games (pictured below = Warhammer Underworlds) are played with dice, and thus contain an element of luck. However, the luck aspect is actually surprisingly small – the better tactician is (almost) always the winner.
The Goddess Fortuna
The Roman Goddess Fortuna presides, as will most likely be known to my esteemed readers, over fate and fortune. In Swedish she is called Fru Fortuna – fru means wife or lady; so, similar to the English name of Lady Luck. The author notes that Fortuna was consulted in oracular shrines at Praeneste and Antium. He also notes that the great emperor Trajan (98–117 CE) dedicated a major temple to each aspect of the Goddess and that offerings were made on the first of January to ensure good fortune for the coming year. Perhaps this is a tradition that we must bring back. Pictured below: Fortuna Distributing Her Largesse by Cornelis de Baellieur.
Fortuna and Gambling
The author notes that Fortuna (often by the name of Lady Luck – a name that emerged during the twentieth century) appears in the American magical tradition in preparations used by gamblers – in the hopes that she might help them in games of chance. The author shares the following example of a ritual to Fortuna:
‘One New Orleans practice is to burn a specially prepared Lady Luck vigil candle during the waxing of the moon, praying for what one wishes and reciting the 23rd plasm (usually associated with funerals).’
Nigel Pennick – Fortuna. Page 25.
Napoleon and the Oracle
Although the book centres around luck and gambling, the author also elaborates on divination and oracles. He notes that a certain oracle – the Praenestine Oracle – had a vogue in France during the early 1800s. And, according to legend, one Charles Le Clerc used this oracle to attain prophecies for Napoleon:
Napoleon: What is the aspect of the seasons and what political changes are likely to take place?
Kirchenhoffer, quoted in Deacon 1977, 15–16.
Oracle: A conqueror of noble mind and mighty power shall spring from low condition; he will break the chains of the oppressed and give liberty to the nations.
Sounds quite Napoleonic indeed!
Conclusion
Fortuna has 120 pages and contains some interesting insights for those who are interested in the history of gambling. The author details some of the various bans and religious attitudes towards gambling over the centuries.
The Golden One 
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