Fortuna with Cornucopia and Rudder (Carnelian Intaglio)

Carnelian intaglio. This gemstone, carved on a translucent orange-red variety of chalcedony, depicts a syncretic representation of the goddess Fortuna.

The deity is shown as a standing female figure, facing right. In her left hand, she holds a rudder, a symbol of her power to steer life and the destiny of mankind. In her right hand, she holds the horn of Amalthea, or cornucopia, as an emblem of the prosperity she grants. Uniquely, she wears a Corinthian helmet on her head—an attribute of Minerva—suggesting a syncretic divinity that combines the luck of Fortuna with the wisdom of Minerva. Fortuna was a deity with multiple invocations in the Roman world, including Fortuna Barbata for men and Fortuna Muliebris for women.

Registration code DJ03357