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The Sanctuary Praenestina of Fortuna Primigenia: A Virtual Tour

Dea Fortuna Primigenia, ancient Roman mother Goddess who determined the life's path for children when they were born, was a major deity in Roman times, deserving the largest temple complex in the Roman world.

Cicero described the oracle at the Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia at Praeneste (Palestrina, Italy, in today's world); a popular destination for devotees of the Goddess Fortuna over a period of hundreds of years, and for countless generations of mothers who sought predictions for their babies in ancient times.

3d computer model of the Temple complex as it would have been at its peak. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
3d computer model of the Temple complex
as it would have been at its peak.

Travelling the basalt Roman road to and from the temple complex and forum marketplace. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
Travelling the basalt Roman road
to and from the temple complex
and forum marketplace.

Welcome! Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
Welcome!

Wine, lamp oil, foodstuffs and incense were unloaded in amorphae to be hauled up the service ramps to the Forum for sale and use in the ceremonies and rites of Dea Fortuna Primigenia. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
Wine, lamp oil, foodstuffs and incense
were unloaded in amorphae
to be hauled up the service ramps to the Forum
for sale and use in the ceremonies and rites
of Dea Fortuna Primigenia.

A long climb to the shrine. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
A long climb to the shrine.

The traffic in front of the temple could be quite busy during the day with merchants getting their stocks in, and priestesses/priests receiving their deliveries. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
The traffic in front of the temple
could be quite busy during the day
with merchants getting their stocks in,
and priestesses/priests receiving their deliveries.

The ascent! Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
The ascent!

This ramp is one of three routes to the top, and serves as an alternative to the covered ramp at the front of the complex, and is mainly used by merchants and traders. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
This ramp is one of three routes to the top,
and serves as an alternative
to the covered ramp at the front of the complex,
and is mainly used by merchants and traders.

Staircase  to the next level. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
Staircase  to the next level.

Further up to ascend! Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
Further up to ascend!

This level has a row of sculpture niches. Note the torcheres for night ceremonies. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
This level has a row of sculpture niches.
Note the torcheres for night ceremonies.

The terraces. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
The terraces.

The stairs to higher up the terraces. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
The stairs to higher up the terraces.

The way the Sanctuary probably looked over 2000 years ago illuminated by torcheres. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
The way the Sanctuary probably looked
over 2000 years ago
illuminated by torcheres.

An aerial view of the temple illuminated as it probably looked in ancient times. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
An aerial view of the temple illuminated
as it probably looked in ancient times.

A view by day, showing the torcheres used to light the temple up. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
A view by day, showing the torcheres
used to light the temple up.

Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel

Ascending up the steps during the rites of Dea Fortuna Primigenia towards the forum, now adorned with red. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
Ascending up the steps during the rites of
Dea Fortuna Primigenia
towards the forum, now adorned with red.

Ascend! Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
Ascend!

The temple complex adorned with red banners for sacred rites to Fortuna, the Goddess of Fate, and Prosperity. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
The temple complex adorned with red banners
for sacred rites to Fortuna,
the Goddess of Fate, and Prosperity.

The top of the complex, next to the sacred shrine of the Goddess Fortuna where her statue was housed. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
The top of the complex,
next to the sacred shrine
of the Goddess Fortuna Primigenia
where her statue was housed.

Reconstruction of the temple of Fortuna Primigenia at Palestrina by Pietro da Cortona (1596 to 1669 CE)

Reconstruction of the temple of Fortuna Primigenia at Palestrina
by Pietro da Cortona (1596 to 1669 CE),
public domain image


Resources

Virtual Tour provided with the permission of 3d model and virtual tour creator, Darren / Logan5Ariel
australis.www2.50megs.com/Fortuna/1.html

atlasobscura.com/places/sanctuary-of-fortuna-primigenia

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Temple_of_Fortuna_-_Cortona.jpg