The Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia at Palestrina (ancient Praeneste) near Rome E-Book

Petra Vogler

• Herausgeber: BoD - Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

The Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia at Palestrina Built in the 2nd century BCE, the Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia at Palestrina is dedicated to two prominent goddesses of the era, the Egyptian Isis and Fortuna. The Sanctuary is claimed to have been one of the largest, if not the largest, temples in ancient Italy. The aim of this booklet is to contribute to a deeper understanding of its complex history.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

TOPOGRAPHY OF PRAENESTE & FOUNDATION MYTH

RECONSTRUCTIONS OF THE FORTUNA SANCTUARY & NILE MOSAIC

THE ORACLE OF PRAENESTE & THE SORTES PRAENESTINAE

FINAL REMARKS

INTRODUCTION

In 2022 I learned about a place south of Rome that held immense religious and spiritual significance in the ancient Latium: Praeneste, known today as Palestrina. Upon witnessing the temple complex for the first time, I was so impressed and moved that I delved deeply into its history.

Built in the 2nd century BCE, the Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia at Palestrina embodies Hellenistic and Egyptian influences. Dedicated to two prominent goddesses of the era, the Egyptian Isis and Fortuna, the temple complex still houses the famed Nile Mosaic, dating back to the 1st-century BCE.

The Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia is claimed to have been one of the largest, if not the largest, temples in ancient Italy.

As Teresa Fava Thomas describes it: “The massive site spans a mountain-side (…) and remains a rare example of an intact pagan temple complex. (…) Ancient Praeneste‘s massive temple structure, the Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia has a commanding prospect over the region. Praeneste is now called Palestrina and is about 23 miles southeast of Rome. The massive temple has seven layers of ramps and terraces up the side of Mount Ginestro, and at the top was a sanctuary for the goddess as well as a site for casting lots to determine the verdict of the oracle. The temple faces southwest towards the Mediterranean and oversees a broad valley which made any sacrifices or ceremonial fires visible from a great distance. (…) The massive structure spans nearly a quarter mile (c. 400 m) across, is nearly as high along the steep slopes of the mountain and rises level by level. Broad ramps allowed devotees to climb from one terrace to another and finally to the place where sacrifices were made and divination practiced. Cicero records that a young boy was chosen to pull the lots from a well to reveal the divination. The oracle was trusted by the local people but also by Roman emperors and military elite who sought advice from the oracle of the goddess Fortuna (Thomas 2020: 1 f.).”

In those days Romans believed casting of lots could predict the future, and divination played a significant role in their lives.

Palestrina – Composition, Joseph Mallord William Turner, 1828. Exhibited 1839, Tate Gallery

“(...), nusquam se fortunatiorem quam Praeneste vidisse Fortunam (Cicere, de Div., II, 87, 44 BC).”

“(...), no place is more fortunate than the Sanctuary of Fortuna (Cicero, de Div., II, 87, 44 BC).”

Overwhelmed by the Sanctuary’s aesthetics, meaning and historical significance, I’d like to share my findings with you in this booklet. The photographs are from the heritage site at Palestrina, the “National Archaeological Museum Prenestino, Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia and Complex of the Buildings of the Forum of Praeneste”. 1

Once a rival to Delphi as one of Europe’s most important oracles, the place has somehow fallen into obscurity for centuries. Despite his critical view of divination practices at the time, Cicero in his De Divinatione referred to the Sanctuary as the most fortunate place.

On the following pages, I’ll provide an overview on the history, reconstructions of the Sanctuary, the Oracle and the Fortuna Primigenia Cult.

1 (https://direzioneregionalemuseilazio.cultura.gov.it/en/luoghi/museo-archeologico-nazionale-di-palestrina-e-santuario-della-fortuna-primigenia/)

TOPOGRAPHY OF PRAENESTE & FOUNDATION MYTH

Where was ancient Praeneste located and where is today’s Palestrina? The city is situated approximately forty kilometers south of Rome, about a 45-minutes’ drive away.

see Google Maps

In ancient times, Praeneste, with its Sanctuary, was the Italic Oracle par excellence, the most renowned on the peninsula. Most of these oracles relied on cleromancy, a divination method invloving the casting of lots.

The following page provides a detailed study on ancient Italian oracles by Jacqueline Champaeux (1990).

Champeaux 1990: 274