Felicitas is the Roman Goddess of happiness, blessedness, prosperity. And a far more reliable creature than Fortuna. Fortuna rode the wheel of fortune. So you could either be at the top of the wheel or at the bottom of an unfortunate cycle. By contrast, Felicitas was always on the happy upbeat.
She had her own temple in Rome from the 2nd Century BC, and had two official festivals a year. The July 1st one shared with Juno and the October 9th (Fausta Felicitas) one on her own. She was often depicted on coins. Identified by her cornucopia and her staff called a caduseus.
Why the association with the erect penis?
Steve Coates wrote in the New York Times,
“There seems to be phalluses everywhere. Enormous ones, tiny ones, doubles, singles; attached to men, gods or satyrs in every medium or in dismembered splendor; over doors, carved into the pavement, on chains and serving trays, turned into lamps, winged like birds, with bells on. Even some of the phalluses have phalluses. “
Quoted in Priapus and Phalluses in Ancient Rome webpage.
Parents hung them around the necks of their children as amulets of good luck. I’m guessing they are a symbol of a healthy body and a beating heart. As well as being the bringer of the greatest joy, we mere mortals ever experience in our lives. (having children I mean!)
Here are two I’ve come across on my travels. Both from the Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall at Chesters.
See March 7th for my post on Saint Felicitas
First Published on October 9th 2025
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