In Ancient Greece, gods were believed to be responsible for events and circumstances that were hard to explain, like natural disasters, poverty, and war. Key components of these explanations were the concepts of fortune and luck, whether one experienced good or bad fortune. Fortune and luck, often accompanied by the idea of fate, were so central to daily life in Ancient Greece that they were woven into mythology, sporting events, gambling, warfare, festivals, and rituals. These concepts were embodied by a goddess who exerted the power and influence of luck on cities and individual lives. Here, we’ll explore the profound influence of these forces in Ancient Greek culture, beginning with their personification in the goddess Tyche.
Tyche: Goddess of Fortune
Depending on your circumstances, Tyche was the goddess to blame or thank for the fortunes that individuals, communities, and entire cities experienced. Though she’s referred to as a single goddess in discussions today, in daily life in Ancient Greece, it was believed there were multiple embodiments of the goddess, with each city having its own Tyche guiding its fortunes.
The goddess was depicted with a mural crown representing city walls, a rudder symbolizing her ability to steer fates, and a cornucopia showcasing her delivery (or withholding) of prosperity. Tyche’s images appeared across Ancient Greece, reflecting the widespread belief in her power. She was depicted in statues, mosaics, amulets, goblets, and coins, the small items acting as talismans for appealing to Tyche when needed. Her image even adorned furniture.
Individuals and communities turned to Tyche to seek her favor in uncertain times, with shrines built in her honor. During seasonal festivals, people commonly performed rituals and made offerings to Tyche, hoping to bring good fortune to their community and themselves. She was also credited for the success and power of Athens, a city that, despite its youth, thrived compared to other cities when Tyche gained recognition as an established deity during the Hellenistic period.
While not as widely known as Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, or Poseidon, Tyche was an essential presence in theatre and stories, guiding characters’ fates and providing essential plot developments to keep narratives moving forward.
Fate, Fortune, and Luck in Mythology
Throughout Greek stories and myths, fate, fortune, and luck were central themes that fueled the epic tales that would entertain the masses, explain current and historical events, and teach important lessons—stories that continue to be influential in the modern era.
In Ancient Greek mythology, it was not believed that futures were set in stone, though at the same time, the future was often considered beyond control. These beliefs shaped stories in which people had some influence over the predictions of the three Fates, giving some degree of free will to the future and the potential to create good luck and fortune. This battle of free will and fate was explored in many Greek myths, where gods and humans would struggle with their destinies, relying on luck and good fortune to pave their own path. The interplay of such opposing forces was further complicated by the meddling of gods, who were known to interfere with the lives of mortals, often for their own amusement, changing their lot in life and destinies—leading to classic tales like The Iliad and The Odyssey.
Luck in Battles, Games, and Daily Life
The role of luck extended beyond myths and theatrical stories in Ancient Greece; fortune and luck were woven into the fabric of daily life. Practices such as prayer and offerings to gods could influence one’s fortune, but at the end of the day, the gods decided how your lot would be cast. This was true for warfare, competitions, gambling, and daily fortune in personal matters. Before events, military personnel, athletes, players, and individuals would appeal to the gods in hopes of having a good outcome.
Attempting to create good fortune by predicting the future and seeking guidance from an oracle was also commonplace. During the Persian Wars, the city of Athens sought guidance on how to win the war. City representatives sought out oracles for insight into what they should do to secure victory. Oracles were cryptic in their answers to questions and left them open to interpretation. But in this instance, the city chose to follow the interpretation of its military leader, who thought the oracle was providing insight on using their navy to win the war, and that’s what the city did—to their success.
While not every encounter had a favorable outcome, oracles, offerings, and prayers provided a sense of control over the fates and the unpredictable in daily life.
Legacy of Fortune and Luck in Greek Thought
The belief that fortune and luck combine chance and choice has carried through into other cultures and civilizations. It was particularly influential in Ancient Rome, where a goddess named Fortuna shared many similarities with Tyche and is often considered her Roman equivalent.
Today, we have a better understanding of how the world works. We can explain why natural disasters occur and, to some degree, accurately predict them, changing how we view fortune and luck when these events occur. We even better understand random chance and how it may affect us, whether we try our luck at winning the lottery or take advantage of a $200 no-deposit bonus, 200 free spins real money bonus when gambling online. Despite our increased understanding of chance, we still borrow from Ancient Greek beliefs—such as trying to predict or control our fortune.
We model the future by examining the past and using it to predict what will happen next. We’ve even developed sophisticated technology, like AI algorithms, that can take vast amounts of data to create predictions to guide our decision-making to better shape outcomes in our favor. Many of us draw comfort from believing luck plays a role in how these random events will play out for us. It’s why we still have items we consider lucky, whether a personal lucky charm or one widely considered lucky, like a rabbit’s foot or four-leaf clover.
The Ancient Greeks may have lived more than 3,000 years ago, but our desire to control our fortune and create good luck remains just as strong—though it manifests differently today.
