The Wheel of Fortune is a metaphor for the endless oscillations in life between disaster and prosperity. Taking part in lotteries is an invitation for the prosperous part of the cycle to begin for the individual lottery player.
The best (and most beautiful) description of the Wheel of Fortune can be found in the tragedy ‘Agamemnon’ by Seneca in which the chorus addresses Fortuna;
“O Fortune, who dost bestow the throne’s high boon with mocking hand, in dangerous and doubtful state thou settest the too exalted. Never have sceptres obtained calm peace or certain tenure; care on care weighs them down, and ever do fresh storms vex their souls. ...great kingdoms sink of their own weight, and Fortune gives way ‘neath the burden of herself. Sails swollen with favouring breezes fear blasts too strongly theirs; the tower which rears its head to the very clouds is beaten by rainy Auster.... Whatever Fortune has raised on high, she lifts but to bring low. Modest estate has longer life; then happy he whoe’er, content with the common lot, with safe breeze hugs the shore, and, fearing to trust his skiff to the wider sea, with unambitious oar keeps close to land.”
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