Praeneste and the lots of Fortuna Primigenia
The sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia at Praeneste: the legend of Numerius Suffustius, the oak tablets, Cicero's scepticism and the Roman emperors' visits.
On the slopes of Monte Ginestro, where Palestrina stands today south-east of Rome, the ancient Praenestines built one of the grandest sanctuaries of the Roman world. It was dedicated to Fortuna Primigenia, and its fame rested not only on the terraced architecture descending towards the plain, but on a particular oracle: the sortes, inscribed tablets drawn by lot and interpreted as the voice of the goddess.
The legend of the tablets
Cicero, in the second book of On Divination, reports the founding legend preserved in the records of Praeneste. A distinguished citizen, Numerius Suffustius, was driven by repeated and threatening dreams to split open a rock in a specific spot. From the broken stone came tablets of oak wood inscribed with ancient signs. The place was fenced off and consecrated, and the cult of Fortuna arose beside it.
At the same time, the story continues, where the temple of Fortuna now stood, an olive tree dripped honey. The haruspices declared that those lots would enjoy great fame, and on their orders a chest was made from the olive wood, in which the tablets were placed. At the time of consultation a boy mixed and drew them, according to tradition under the goddess's inspiration.
Cicero's critical eye
Cicero does not hide his scepticism. He asks what could possibly be foretold by drawing lots and observes that, in his day, no magistrate or man of standing still resorted to that kind of divination, now practised mostly by the common people. He also recalls a quip of the philosopher Carneades, who said he had never seen a more fortunate Fortune than the one at Praeneste.
This ironic attitude should not mislead us. The sanctuary remained extremely popular, and its imposing monumental rebuilding, generally dated between the late second and early first century BC, shows the wealth gathered by a cult that drew worshippers from all over Latium and beyond. The goddess was also depicted nursing the infant Jupiter and Juno, an image that placed her at the very origin of the gods.
The emperors and the goddess
The lots of Praeneste interested the rulers of Rome as well. Suetonius relates that Tiberius, wary of oracles near the capital, thought of suppressing them and had the sealed chest brought to Rome; but the tablets reportedly vanished inside it, reappearing only when the container was returned to Praeneste. The emperor, struck by the episode, abandoned his plan.
Suetonius also tells that Domitian consulted the Fortuna of Praeneste at the start of each year, always receiving favourable answers. In the last year of his life, however, the lot drawn was ominous, and shortly afterwards the emperor was assassinated. Whatever their truth, these episodes show how alive the sanctuary's fame still was in the first century AD.
Of the great complex there remain today the terraces, incorporated into the medieval and modern town of Palestrina, and the National Archaeological Museum housed in the Palazzo Colonna Barberini. Among its works stands out the famous Nile mosaic, depicting Egypt during the flood. Praeneste shows how even the simple drawing of a sign could become, in the Roman world, an oracle of prestige.