Editing Tyche

{{Short description|Greek goddess of fortune}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Greek
| name = Tyche
| deity_of = Goddess of Fortune
| member_of = the [[Oceanids]]
| image = Istanbul - Museo archeol. - Tyche e Plutone - sec. II d.C. - Foto G. Dall'Orto 28-5-2006.jpg
| alt = <!-- for alternate text of the title image per [[WP:ALT]] -->
| caption = Polychrome marble statue depicting Tyche holding the infant [[Plutus]] in her arms, 2nd century AD, [[Istanbul Archaeological Museum]]
| script_name =
| script =
| affiliation = <!-- or | associate = -->
| cult_center = <!-- or | cult_centre = -->
| artifacts = <!-- or | artefacts = -->
| animals =
| symbol = [[Mural crown]]
| consort = <!-- or | consorts = -->
| parents = [[Oceanus]] and [[Tethys (mythology)|Tethys]] or<br />[[Zeus]] and [[Aphrodite]] or<br />[[Prometheus]]
| siblings = [[Oceanids]], the [[River gods (Greek mythology)|river gods]]
| Roman_equivalent = [[Fortuna]]
| children = [[Plutus]]
| region =
}}
{{Greek deities (personifications)}}
{{Greek deities (water)}}

'''Tyche''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|aɪ|k|i}}; [[Ancient Greek]]: Τύχη ''Túkhē'', 'Luck', {{IPA|grc|tý.kʰɛː|lang|link=yes}}, {{IPA|el|ˈti.çi|label=[[Modern Greek]]:}}; [[Roman mythology|Roman]] equivalent: [[Fortuna]]) was the presiding [[tutelary deity]] who governed the fortune and prosperity of a city, its [[destiny]]. In Classical [[Greek mythology]], she is the daughter of the Titans [[Tethys (mythology)|Tethys]] and [[Oceanus]]. At this time served to bring positive messages to people, relating to external events outside their control.<ref name="Ellerbrock">{{cite book | last1 = Ellerbrock | first1 = Uwe | title = The Parthians: The Forgotten Empire (Peoples of the Ancient World) | publisher = Routledge | year = 2021 | isbn = 978-0367473099 | pages=285–287}}</ref>

During the [[Hellenistic period]], with dramatic socio-political changes starting with [[Alexander the Great]], Tyche increasingly embodied the whims of fate (both negative and positive), eclipsing the role of the Olympic gods.<ref name="Ellerbrock" /><ref name="Grant">{{cite book | last1 = Grant | first1 = Michael | title = From Alexander to Cleopatra | publisher = History Book Club; BOMC ED edition | year = 2000 | isbn = 0965014207 | pages=214–216}}</ref>  The Greek historian [[Polybius]] believed that when no cause can be discovered to events such as floods, droughts, frosts, or even in politics, then the cause of these events may be fairly attributed to Tyche.<ref>Polybius. ''The Rise Of The Roman Empire'', Page 29, Penguin, 1979.</ref> Other ancient Greek sources corroborate Polybius, such as [[Pindar]] who claims Tyche could hand victory to a lesser athlete.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Giannopoulou|first=V.|date=1999|title=Divine Agency and "Tyche" in Euripides' "Ion": Ambiguity and Shifting Perspectives|journal=Illinois Classical Studies.|volume=24/25|pages=257–271|jstor=23065371}}</ref>  This "Hellenistic Tyche" is often featured on coins such as those minted by [[Demetrius I Soter]]. Further, Tyche comes to represent not only personal fate, but the fate of communities. Cities venerated their own '''Tychai''', specific iconic versions of the original Tyche. This practice was continued in the [[iconography]] of [[Roman art]], even into the [[Christian Roman Empire|Christian period]], often as sets of the greatest cities of the empire.

Tyche was further absorbed into the [[Parthian Empire]], who frequently depicted Tyche in their coins, as well as in imagery bestowing legitimacy to Parthian kings.<ref name="Ellerbrock" />

==Mythology==

=== Family ===
In literature, Tyche might be given various genealogies. She has been described as a daughter of [[Oceanus]] and [[Tethys (mythology)|Tethys]], thus one of the [[Oceanids]],<ref>[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'' 360; ''[[Homeric Hymn]]'' 2.420</ref> or of Zeus,<ref>[[Pindar]], ''Olympian'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0162%3Abook%3DO.%3Apoem%3D12 12].</ref> or even [[Prometheus]].<ref>[[Alcman]] frag 3.</ref> She was connected with [[Nemesis (mythology)|Nemesis]]<ref>As on an Attic amphora, fifth century BC, [[Antikensammlung Berlin]], [http://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Tykhe.html illustrated at Theoi.com].</ref> and [[Agathodaemon|Agathos Daimon]] ("good spirit").

She is sometimes named as the mother of [[Plutus]],<ref>[[Aesop]], ''[[Aesop's fables|Fables]]'' [http://mythfolklore.net/aesopica/oxford/413.htm 413]</ref> the god of wealth; usually, however, he is the son of [[Demeter]] and [[Iasion]].<ref>[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D963 969]; [[Diodorus Siculus]], ''[[Bibliotheca historica]]'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/5D*.html#p235 5.77.1]; [[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''[[De Astronomica]]'' [https://topostext.org/work/207#2.4.7 2.4.7]</ref>

=== Hero myths ===
According to [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] in his ''Description of Greece'', [[Palamedes (mythology)|Palamedes]] created the first pair of dice and gave them as an offering to Tyche.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=7 February 2018|title=Tyche: Greek Goddess|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tyche|access-date=28 November 2018|website=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]]}}</ref><ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+2.20.3&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160 2.20.3]</ref>

==Worship==
Tyche was uniquely venerated at [[Itanus|Itanos]] in [[History of Crete|Crete]], as ''Tyche Protogeneia'', linked with the Athenian [[Protogeneia]] ("firstborn"), daughter of [[Erechtheus]], whose self-sacrifice saved the city.<ref>Noted by Spyridakis, who demonstrated that earlier suggestions of a source in Fortuna Primigenia of Praeneste was anachronistic.</ref>  <!--In a similar way, according to [[William Robertson Smith]] the Tyche of [[Antioch]] was originally a young virgin sacrificed at the time of the founding of the city to ensure its continued prosperity and good fortune.--> In [[Alexandria]] the ''Tychaeon'', the Greek temple of Tyche, was described by [[Libanius]] as one of the most magnificent of the entire Hellenistic world.<ref>Libanius, in ''Progymnasmata'' 1114R, noted by Spyridakis 1969:45.</ref>

Stylianos Spyridacis<ref>[http://history.ucdavis.edu/faculty/Spyridakis_Stylianos University of California Davis faculty: Stylianos Spyridakis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516061656/http://history.ucdavis.edu/faculty/Spyridakis_Stylianos |date=2010-05-16 }}</ref> concisely expressed Tyche's appeal in a Hellenistic world of arbitrary violence and unmeaning reverses: "In the turbulent years of the [[Diadochi|Epigoni of Alexander]], an awareness of the instability of human affairs led people to believe that Tyche, the blind mistress of Fortune, governed mankind with an inconstancy which explained the vicissitudes of the time."<ref>Spyridakis, Stylianos. "The [[Itanos|Itanian]] cult of Tyche Protogeneia", ''Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte'' '''18'''.1 (January 1969:42-48) p. 42.</ref>

According to Matheson, the Goddess Tyche was often worshipped as the personification of a city and its fortune. Matheson also states that there were cults to Tyche all over the Mediterranean. In [[Athens]] for instance, citizens would give tribute to ''Agathe Tyche'' alongside other gods.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Matheson|first=S.B.|date=1994|title=The Goddess Tyche|journal=Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin|pages=18–33}}</ref> Other gods seem to also be presented alongside Tyche including [[Dionysus]] at [[Corinth]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Edwards|first=Charles M.|date=July–September 1990|title=Tyche of Corinth|journal=Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens|volume=59|issue=3|pages=529–542|doi=10.2307/148301|jstor=148301}}</ref>

There was a Temple of Tyche that contained a figure called Nemesis-Tyche, an aspect of Tyche. According to Edwards, [[Nemesis]] and Tyche begin to share cults in the Roman period.<ref name=":2" />

The [[mural crown]] of Tyche of [[Sparta]] depicts the Spartans soldiers repelling Amazons. Palagia argues that this depiction is important to Spartan mythology.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Palagia|first=Olga|date=1994|title=Tyche of Sparta|journal=Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin|pages=64–75}}</ref>

''Automatia'' and ''Meilichius'' were two epithets of Tyche.<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DA%3Aentry+group%3D57%3Aentry%3Dautomatia-bio-1 A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, Automatia]</ref><ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0104:entry=meilichius-bio-1 A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, Meilichius]</ref>

==Depictions==
[[File:Bronze-Gordian III and Tranquillina-l1parthica-singara AE33 BMC 7.jpg|thumb|right|Tyche on the reverse of this [[base metal]] coin by [[Gordian III]] ({{r.|238|244 AD}})]]
Tyche appears on many [[numismatics|coins]] of the Hellenistic period in the three centuries before the [[Anno Domini|Christian era]], especially from [[Aegean civilizations|cities in the Aegean]]. Unpredictable turns of fortune drive the complicated plotlines of [[Hellenistic romance]]s, such as, ''[[Leucippe and Clitophon]]'' or ''[[Daphnis and Chloe]]''. She experienced a resurgence in another era of uneasy change, the final days of publicly sanctioned [[Paganism]], between the late-fourth-century emperors [[Julian the Apostate|Julian]] and [[Theodosius I]], who definitively closed the temples. The effectiveness of her capricious power even achieved respectability in philosophical circles during that generation, although among poets it was a commonplace to revile her for a fickle harlot.<ref>[[C. M. Bowra]], "Palladas on Tyche" ''The Classical Quarterly'' New Series, '''10'''.1 (May 1960:118–128).</ref>

The constellation of [[Virgo (constellation)|Virgo]] is sometimes identified as the heavenly figure of Tyche,<ref>DK Multimedia: Eyewitness Encyclopedia, ''Stardome, Virgo: miscellaneous section''</ref> as well as other goddesses such as [[Demeter]] and [[Astraea (mythology)|Astraea]].

=== Tyche in art ===
In [[Greco-Roman]] and [[medieval art]], Tyche was depicted as wearing a [[mural crown]], and carrying a [[cornucopia]] (horn of plenty), an [[emblem]]atic [[Gubernaculum (classical)|gubernaculum]] (ship's rudder), and the [[Rota Fortunae|wheel of fortune]], or she may stand on the wheel, presiding over the entire circle of fate.

The mural crown's significance is that it identifies her as the goddess of the city, and in the case of Sparta her mural crown depicted a part of their foundation myth of their city.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> The mural crown is often used by archeologists and historians to identify a figure in art as Tyche.<ref name=":2" />

According to Matheson the Goddess Tyche, being one of the Oceanids, is considered to be an ocean goddess of some kind. Citing how Pindar refers to her in his poems, "he implores her to keep watch around [[Himera]], a port" and how she is often depicted holding a ship's rudder.<ref name=":1" />

=== Tyche in theatre ===
The play writer Euripides used Tyche as a literary device and personification. [[Apollo]] is said to direct Tyche and even the god's plans can be influenced by the concept of Tyche.<ref name=":0" />

=== Tyche in poetry ===
The poet Pindar alludes to Tyche as a goddess of fate who can control the outcome of athletic contests, according to Giannopoulou.<ref name=":0" />

==Greco-Roman Tyche==
[[File:F0478 Louvre Trois Tyches Ma590 rwk.jpg|thumb|upright|''The Three Tychai'', {{circa|160 AD}}, [[Louvre Museum]]]]
In late Roman sets the figures, usually four, represented the Tychai of [[Rome]], [[Tyche of Constantinople|Constantinople]], [[Alexandria]], and either [[Antioch]] (more usual, as in the [[Esquiline Treasure]] of about 380 AD) or [[Trier]], as in the [[Calendar of 354]]. The Tychai may be seen wearing a [[mural crown]] (a crown like the walls of the city).

Another common depiction of Tyche in the Greco-Roman period was Nemesis-Tyche.<ref name=":2" />

=== Tyche of Rome ===
[[File:Şans Tapınağı sütunlar detayı.JPG|thumb|left|upright|The remains of a Greek temple of Tyche, [[Olba (ancient city)|Olba]]]]The Tyche of Rome was represented "in military costume" according to Amin.<ref name="BM">Amin, O. S. M. (29 September 2016). Tyche Furniture Ornaments. ''World History Encyclopedia''. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5748/tyche-furniture-ornaments/</ref> In Rome and the other parts of the Western Roman Empire she was referred to as Fortuna.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" /><gallery>
File:Tyche of Rome - Esquiline Treasure.jpg|Tyche from the [[Esquiline Treasure]]
File:Personification of the city of Rome - Chronography of 354.png|Tyche of the city of Rome - Chronography of 354, unknown author.
</gallery>

=== Tyche of Constantinople ===
Amin mentions that the attributes of the Tyche of Constantinople included a [[cornucopia]].<ref name="BM" /> Tyche was still a figure in Constantinople, depicted on coins well into early Christian Rome. Matheson argues that the Tyche of Constantinople replaced the one of Antioch as the typical representation.<ref name=":1" /><gallery>
File:Tyche of Constantinople - Esquiline Treasure.jpg|Tyche from the Esquiline Treasure
File:Porphyrios Hippodrome Istanbul (3).JPG|Base of statue that depicts Tyche holding a cornucopia. Found in Constantinople.
</gallery>

=== Tyche of Alexandria ===
The Tyche of Alexandria "hold sheaves of corns and rests her foot on the bow of a ship" as described by Amin.<ref name="BM" /> This could be related to how other depictions of Tyche, like the one in Sparta, are seen with ships rudders.<ref name=":3" /> This is because she can steer events argues Matheson.<ref name=":1" /> Also, Pindar describes her power over ships "At thy bidding, swift ships are steered upon the sea.<ref name=":1" /><gallery>
File:Tyche of Alexandria - Esquiline Treasure.jpg|Tyche from the Esquiline Treasure
File:Personification of the city of Alexandria - Chronography of 354.png|Tyche of the city of Alexandria - Chronography of 354, unknown author.
</gallery>

=== Tyche of Antioch ===
[[File:Tyre-DoubleShekel 104-103BCE BodeMuseumBerlin RomanDeckert10032020.jpg|thumb|A golden coin depicting Tyche with a mural crown. Found at [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]], currently in the [[Bode Museum]], Berlin.|186x186px]]
Several artefacts feature the Tyche of Antioch with a male swimmer personifying the [[Orontes River]] at her feet according to Amin.<ref name="BM" /> Her importance to the river is also strengthened by her being considered an Oceanid, according to Giannopoulou.<ref name=":0" /> The Antiochene Tyche maintained relevance much later into the Christian dominated empire, as show by official ''Pentanummium'' coins minted during the reigns of [[Justin I|Justin]] (r. [[518]]-[[527]]) and [[Justinian I|Justinian]] (r. [[527]]-[[565]]) that depict her in her temple on the reverse.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wildwinds - Justin I |url=https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/byz/justin_I/sb0111_AVG.jpg}}</ref><gallery>
File:Tyche of Antioch - Esquiline Treasure.jpg|Tyche from the Esquiline Treasure
File:Trebonianus Gallus-Tyche, Antioch.JPG|Provincial bronze coin of Trebonianus Gallus (reverse)
File:Tyche Antioch Vatican Inv2672.jpg|Roman copy of a bronze by [[Eutychides]], Galleria dei Candelabri, [[Vatican Museums]]
File:TycheOfAntioch.png|Pentanummium of Justin showing the Tyche on the reverse, along with the E (Epsilon) mark, showing the coin was worth 5 ''Nummi''
</gallery>

== Tyche in the Parthian Empire ==
[[File:Silver Tetradrachm of Vologases I Enthroned king Vologases I facing left, receiving diadem from Tyche, standing with sceptre. AD 55-56.jpg|thumb|Silver Tetradrachm of Vologases I Enthroned king Vologases I facing left, receiving diadem from Tyche, standing with sceptre. AD 55-56]]
In the early years of the [[Parthian Empire]], Parthian kings, starting with [[Mithridates I of Parthia|Mithridates I]] (165 BC) utilized imagery of the [[Olympian gods]] in their coinage, often with the term ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ (friend of the Greeks) as a conciliatory gesture to subject Greek people living in the former [[Seleucid Empire]] lands. However, by the time of [[Vologases I]] (51 AD), the only Greek imagery used on coins was the goddess Tyche, who continued to be represented on Parthian coins for the next 200 years. In later imagery, Tyche provides the [[Khvarenah]] or projection of divine rulership in [[Zoroastrianism]] to the worthy king.<ref name="Ellerbrock" />  It is unclear whether this "Parthian Tyche" simultaneously represented a Zoroastrian goddess such as [[Anahita]] or [[Ashi]], or possibly another.

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* [[Diodorus Siculus]], ''The Library of History'' translated by [[Charles Henry Oldfather]]. Twelve volumes. [[Loeb Classical Library]]. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989. Vol. 3. Books 4.59–8. [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/home.html Online version at Bill Thayer's Web Site]
* Diodorus Siculus, ''Bibliotheca Historica. Vol 1-2''. Immanel Bekker. Ludwig Dindorf. Friedrich Vogel. in aedibus B. G. Teubneri. Leipzig. 1888–1890. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0540 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Gaius Julius Hyginus]], ''Astronomica from The Myths of Hyginus'' translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. [https://topostext.org/work/207 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
* [[Hesiod]], ''Theogony'' from ''The Homeric Hymns and Homerica'' with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Cambridge, MA.,Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0129 Greek text available from the same website].
* [[Pindar]], ''Odes'' translated by Diane Arnson Svarlien. 1990. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0162 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
* Pindar, ''The Odes of Pindar'' including the Principal Fragments with an Introduction and an English Translation by Sir John Sandys, Litt.D., FBA. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1937. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0161 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Tyche}}

{{Greek mythology (deities)}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Fortune goddesses]]
[[Category:Time and fate goddesses]]
[[Category:Tutelary deities]]
[[Category:Greek goddesses]]
[[Category:Oceanids]]
[[Category:Children of Zeus]]
[[Category:Abundance goddesses]]
[[Category:Personifications in Greek mythology]]