A Roman marble head of the goddess Tyche, circa 2nd - 3rd century AD
Height: 24 cm
Provenance: European private collection, formed in the early 20th century, based on the restoration techniques
Auctionata, 2016
Private collection, Germany, acquired from the above
Kunstauktionshaus Schlosser, Bamberg, Germany, 2020
A lifesize head of Tyche, the Greek goddess of fortune and fate, wearing the mural crown (representing city walls) in her guise as the protector of the polis (city state).
Tyche, the daughter of the Titans Tethys and Oceanus, grew in importance as a deity during the Hellenistic period following the conquests of Alexander the Great. In a world where cities could rise and fall quickly due to war, economic change, and political upheaval, Tyche began to be worshipped as a powerful protector of cities and a bringer of fortune. In addition to her mural crown, she was often depicted with symbols of plenty such as a cornucopia, and sometimes a rudder (symbolising navigation or control over fate). She was also occasionally depicted with a wheel, representing the unpredictability of fortune.
