Plutarch tells us of Timotheus, the Athenian, son of Conon, who, “when his adversaries ascribed his successes to his good luck, and had a painting made representing him asleep, and Fortune by his side, casting her nets over the cities, was rough and violent in his indignation at those who did it, as if, by attributing all to Fortune, they had robbed him of his just honors; and said to the people, on one occasion, at his return from war: ‘In this, ye men of Athens, Fortune had no part!’ A piece of petulance which the deity played back upon Timotheus; who, from that time, was never able to achieve anything that was great.” “Sylla,” he continues, “on the contrary, not only accepted the credit of such divine favors with pleasure, but gave the honor of all to Fortune. He once remarked: ‘that of all his well-advised actions, none proved so lucky in the execution, as what he had boldly enterprised, not by calculation, but upon the moment.’ He gave Fortune a higher place than merit, and made himself ‘entirely the creature of a superior power.’” The Goddess of Chance, or Good Luck, actually existed in the imagination of the ancients. Chapman writes: “The old Scythians Painted blind Fortune’s powerful hands with wings, To show, her gifts come swiftly and suddenly, Which, if her favorites be not swift to take, He loses them forever.” Temples to Fortuna (the Greek Tyche) dotted the sunlit landscape from Thebes to Rome. She was adored by the Etrurians as Nortia. Originating near Mount Parnassus, her worship gradually extended into all parts of Greece and Italy. Antium, an opulent and powerful city of Latium, was once celebrated for its splendid temple of Fortune. History discloses not a period, however remote, when Fortuna was not a favorite with the Latins. Numa Pompilius daily prostrated himself before her altar, and the ceremonial received a new impetus from his pious grandson, Ancus Martius. Servius Tullius ascribed his power and success to the gods. Especially did he assume the protection of Fortuna. Two temples were erected to her by this great king, one in the Forum Boarium and the other on the Tiber. By some it is said that the edifices were respectively dedicated to Bona Fortuna and Fors Fortuna. Yet another gorgeous structure afterward graced the Quirinal.