In ancient Roman religion, Fortuna Virilis was an aspect or manifestation of the goddess

Fortuna Fortuna ( la, Fortūna, equivalent to the Greek goddess Tyche) is the goddess of fortune and the personification of luck in Roman religion who, largely thanks to the Late Antique author Boethius, remained popular through the Middle Ages until at ...

who despite her name ''(virilis'', "virile, manly") was cultivated by women only. She shared a festival day with

Venus Verticordia Venus Verticordia ("the changer of hearts") was an epithet of the Roman goddess Venus, alluding to the goddess' ability to change hearts from lust to chastity. In the year 114 BC, three Vestal Virgins were condemned to death for transgressing wi ...

on April 1 ''( Kalendae Aprilis)'', which first appears with the name

Veneralia The Veneralia was an ancient Roman festival celebrated April 1 (the Kalends of ''Aprilis'') in honor of Venus Verticordia ("Venus the changer of hearts") and Fortuna Virilis ("Manly" or "Virile Fortune"). The cult of Venus Verticordia was estab ...

in the mid-4th century AD. According to the poet

Ovid Pūblius Ovidius Nāsō (; 20 March 43 BC – 17/18 AD), known in English as Ovid ( ), was a Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus. He was a contemporary of the older Virgil and Horace, with whom he is often ranked as one of the th ...

, Fortuna Virilis had the power to conceal the physical imperfections of women from the eyes of men. During the Veneralia, she receives an offering of incense, while the more elaborate ceremonies are devoted to Venus. A note from

Verrius Flaccus Marcus Verrius Flaccus (c. 55 BCAD 20) was a Roman grammarian and teacher who flourished under Augustus and Tiberius. Life He was a freedman, and his manumitter has been identified with Verrius Flaccus, an authority on pontifical law; but for c ...

in the fragmentary calendar known as the '' Fasti Praenestini'' has been interpreted to mean that respectable women of the upper classes ''(honestiores)'' observed the Veneralia separately from those of lesser rank or dubious reputation (''humiliores'' and

prostitutes Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-penet ...

Plutarch Plutarch (; grc-gre, Πλούταρχος, ''Ploútarchos''; ; – after AD 119) was a Greek Middle Platonist philosopher, historian, biographer, essayist, and priest at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. He is known primarily for hi ...

is the only source to mention the Temple of Fortuna Virilis, which he says was founded by

Servius Tullius Servius Tullius was the legendary sixth king of Rome, and the second of its Etruscan dynasty. He reigned from 578 to 535 BC. Roman and Greek sources describe his servile origins and later marriage to a daughter of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, ...

. Because of her association with Venus Verticordia, Fortuna Virilis may likewise have had her temple in the Vallis Murcia. A temple in the

Forum Boarium The Forum Boarium (, it, Foro Boario) was the cattle '' forum venalium'' of ancient Rome. It was located on a level piece of land near the Tiber between the Capitoline, the Palatine and Aventine hills. As the site of the original docks of R ...

sometimes identified as that of Fortuna Virilis is more likely to belong to Portunus, though possibly it was built for Portunus and rededicated to Fortuna Virilis. In the

early Middle Ages The Early Middle Ages (or early medieval period), sometimes controversially referred to as the Dark Ages, is typically regarded by historians as lasting from the late 5th or early 6th century to the 10th century. They marked the start of the Mi ...

it was converted to a church perhaps called Santa Maria de Secundicerio.Osborne, ''Rome Across Time and Space'', p. 230.

References

{{Reflist Fortune goddesses Fortuna Time and fate goddesses