In Greek mythology, Tyche is the goddess of fortune. She governed luck, prosperity, and the unpredictable turns of destiny, especially the fortune of individual cities. Her name means “luck” or “fortune,” and she became increasingly important during the Hellenistic period, when political upheaval and military conquest made sudden reversals of fortune a powerful cultural theme.
Tyche had several reported genealogies. Hesiod described her as an Oceanid, daughter of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys, while other traditions connected her with Zeus or other divine figures. This variation is common in Greek mythology, where local cults and later writers often preserved different family trees.
Artists commonly portrayed Tyche wearing a mural crown shaped like a city wall, carrying a cornucopia, or holding a ship’s rudder. The cornucopia represented abundance, while the rudder suggested her ability to steer events. She is often confused with Nemesis, who represented retribution, or Nike, who personified victory. Her Roman counterpart was Fortuna.