TYCHE IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Tyche was a goddess of the Ancient Greek pantheon, and as well as being a resident of Mount Olympus was also regarded as the Greek goddess of Fortune.
The Oceanid Tyche
In the earliest sources, and certainly as written down by Hesiod, Tyche was named as an Oceanid, one of the 3000 daughters of Oceanus and Tethys. This would make Tyche a goddess of water, and so it was common to see Tyche classed as a Nephelai, would of the nymphs of clouds and rains.
Less commonly, Tyche is named a daughter of Zeus by a woman unnamed.
Less commonly, Tyche is named a daughter of Zeus by a woman unnamed.
Tyche the Greek goddess of Fortune
|
In the Greek pantheon Tyche was the goddess of fortune and chance, and whilst now more commonly associated with good fortune, originally Tyche was the bringer of both good and bad fortune. In the Roman pantheon, the equivalent of Tyche was Fortuna, with the roles being well matched.
As a bringer of fortune to man, Tyche was closely associated with the Moirai, the three goddesses who plotted out the lives of men from birth to death. Tyche the goddess of Good FortuneIf Tyche was considered to be primarily the goddess of Greek fortune, then Tyche would often be found in the company of Nemesis, the Greek goddess of Retribution, the two goddesses combining to ensure that there was balance to the cosmos and to individuals.
Eutychia was the Greek goddess of good fortune, although it is probable that this was simply a name given to Tyche, when the fortune given by the goddess was good. In the Roman pantheon, Eutychia was equated with Felicitas, who was recognised as a separate deity to Fortuna. |
Fortuna - Jean-françois Félix Armand Bernard (1829 - 1894) - PD-art-100
|
In Ancient Greece those who succeeded without showing any skill or knowledge were said to have been blessed by Tyche, but the goddess was not a common feature in Greek mythology tales.
Tyche Companion of Persephone
Some name Tyche as one of the companions of Persephone, who picked flowers with the daughter of Demeter. Famously, Persephone was abducted by Hades as she picked flowers, although it would be assumed that Tyche was not present with Persephone on that day, for the attendants who were, were said to have been turned into the Sirens by Demeter.
Tyche in Aesop's Fables
|
Tyche was a figure who appeared in Aesop’s Fables, where Aesop showed that man was slow to give praise for good fortune, but were quick to blame Tyche when bad fortune came their way.
This was shown in the tale of Fortune and the Traveller, where Tyche awoke a traveller who had fallen asleep by a well, for she did not want to be blamed if he were to fall into the well. In the tale of Fortune and the Farmer, Tyche also admonishes a farmer, who gives praise to Gaia, when treasure is uncovered in his field, but does not give any to Tyche. Tyche then points out that the farmer will be quick to blame her when he falls ill or his treasure is stolen away from him. There is also an Aesop fable titled Tyche and the Two Roads, which is also named Prometheus and the Two Roads, for Tyche and Prometheus are used interchangeably. Zeus requires Tyche to show man two roads, one which leads to freedom and one which leads to slavery. The road to freedom starts of rough, and is difficult to traverse, but after overcoming many obstacles, becomes any easy and pleasant roads. The road to slavery though, begins off pleasant enough, but soon it changes to a road which is impassable. |
|
|
|