What Is the Mythology of Saturn?

Early Roman mythology held that there were gods and goddesses that ruled over everything. No matter how mundane an aspect of life, there was a god or goddess that was in charge of it. As Roman mythology was influenced by Greek mythology, rich narratives were applied to gods and goddesses of Rome, who became closely associated with Greek counterparts. One mythological figure whose importance and story grew during pre-Christian times was Saturn.

Identification

Saturn, known as Saturnus in Latin, was a god in the Roman pantheon. Known as the sower of seeds, he ruled over agriculture during the golden age, when he was believed to have introduced farming to man. Later, in medieval times, he was also seen as ruling over justice and strength. He was associated with an older Babylonian agricultural god, Ninib, and his Greek counterpart since the third century has been Kronus, sometimes spelled Chronus.

Genealogy

Saturn was one of the children of the original god and goddess: Caelus (in Greek, Uranus), the sky father, and Terra (Gaia), the earth mother, who formed the universe. He was one of the seven titans, the original ancient gods. He was married to his sister, Ops (Rhea), and ruled the universe with her. Their children were the six key deities in Roman and Greek mythology: Jupiter (Zeus), Neptune (Poseidon), Pluto (Hades), Vesta (Hestia), Juno (Hera), and Ceres (Demeter).

Uprising

One myth is that the children Caelus and Terra brought forth were the titans, who were huge, powerful and destructive, some monsters with 50 heads, and the cyclopes with one eye. Caelus despised the monsters, and as they were born, he would bury them in the earth. Terra, desperate to stop him, begged the titans and cyclopes for help to stop Caelus. Only Saturn agreed to help her, and he castrated Caelus. After doing away with his father, Saturn began his rule over the universe.

Downfall

According to myth, there was a prophecy that said Saturn would fall out of power at the hands of one of his and Ops' children. To prevent this from happening, each time Ops gave birth to a child, Saturn would swallow the babe whole. After giving birth to her sixth child, Jupiter, Ops hid him away and wrapped a rock in a blanket. Saturn gobbled up the rock, believing it to be the child. When grown, Jupiter returned and gave his father a potion that caused him to regurgitate his siblings, who were also fully grown. Jupiter and his siblings, with the help of the monsters, battled Saturn and the titans, and won. The new gods took their places as rulers of the universe. It is at this time Saturn is believed to have gone to Rome, bringing agriculture to the people.

Significance

Saturn's temple, built in approximately 500 B.C.E., still stands in the Forum Romanum in Rome. A mid-winter festival in December, called Saturnalia, was held in Rome in honor of Saturn. Many traditions and customs of the popular holiday, such as ceasing work for the season, exchanging gifts, decorating with evergreens and feasting, were incorporated later into the holiday of Christmas as the Roman empire converted to Christianity. Saturn's name lives on in the seventh day (Saturday) and the seventh planet (Saturn).

References

• The Mythology of Saturn
• Saturn
• Saturn in Myth