"Herodotus uses the past to provide illustrations of situations and characters for use in his present time. He does this because he sees time as circular: history revolving around and around, with the same themes and problems arising again and again. The events that take place in his Histories are often caused by flaws in character, but behind these flaws lies the circular wheel of fate, which raises up and pulls down cities and people in equal measure..."1

William de Brailles 1235

The concept of the wheel of fortune persisted along side the six Ages of Man, which posited time moved from the Creation to the Apocalypse. Mankind had entered the sixth age and awaited the Second Coming and the end of all time.

Crowned Fate sits turning the wheel.
"I am borne again to the stars;

I exalt on high;

Reduced, I descend;

Lowest, I am ground by the wheel"

The Ages of Man are represented within.

1. John H. Arnold, History: A Very Short Introduction