Wheel of Fortune (medieval)

The Wheel of Fortune, also known as Rota Fortunae in Latin, was a prominent symbol and philosophical concept during the medieval period. Originating in classical antiquity, particularly from the writings of philosophers like Boethius (notably in his Consolation of Philosophy), it represented the capricious nature of fate and the instability of worldly power and happiness.

The Wheel was typically depicted as a large, rotating wheel, often with four figures positioned around it. These figures represented different stages of fortune: regnabo (I shall reign), depicting a figure ascending towards the top; regno (I reign), showing a crowned figure at the apex, representing power and prosperity; regnavi (I have reigned), portraying a figure beginning to descend; and sum sine regno (I am without a kingdom), showing a figure at the bottom, representing ruin and despair.

The imagery conveyed the idea that fortune is constantly changing and that no one's position, whether high or low, is permanent. The turning of the Wheel was governed by Fortuna, the Roman goddess of fortune, who was often portrayed as blindfolded to symbolize the arbitrary and unpredictable nature of fate.

The concept of the Wheel of Fortune permeated medieval literature, art, and philosophical thought. It served as a reminder of the transience of earthly possessions and the importance of cultivating inner virtue as a more enduring source of happiness and stability. Morality plays and other dramatic forms frequently used the Wheel as a visual representation of the rise and fall of individuals based on the whims of fate.