The gate of the year

Saturn, Roman sculpture of the II century A.D., in the Bardo National Museum, Tunis, Tunisia.
One of the most ancient Roman divinities, Saturn (Saturnus) was regarded as a mythological ruler of the most ancient times, who had introduced in Italy agriculture, together with the civilization and social order which it implied. The god was identified with the Greek god Cronus (Kronos), because both were divinities of the primordial times. Saturn, however, shows some specific traits which are different from his Greek homologue. According to Varro (Latin Language, V, 64), the name of Saturn was connected with satus, derived from the verb serere (“to sow”). On the other hand, the god’s association with agriculture is also demonstrated by his relationship with the goddess Ops, a divinity of the abundance and wealth which ensue from agriculture. From this association, originates the diffused representation of Saturn holding a cornucopia replete of fruits. In Rome, the god was worshipped since remote times on the Capitol, which was known as Saturnius Mons (Saturn’s Mount). The primordial era ruled by Saturn was regarded as a Golden Age (Saturnia regna), during which the social norms were not yet been established and the earth produced spontaneously its fruits. Such a period was ritually re-enacted during the ceremony of the Saturnalia, which was regarded as the most joyful and deep-felt period of the year, during which banquets were prepared, gifts were exchanged and, in a playful atmosphere, the social differences and hierarchies were temporarily cancelled. So happened that the slaves could be served by their masters, while the latter dressed and behaved like servants (Dumézil 1974, p. 281-282).

[Image: http://www.summagallicana.it/lessico/s/Saturno.htm]




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Saturn, Roman sculpture of the II century A.D., in the Bardo National Museum, Tunis, Tunisia. One of the most ancient Roman divinities, Saturn (Saturnus) was regarded as a mythological ruler of the most ancient times, who had introduced in Italy agriculture, together with the civilization and social order which it implied. The god was identified with the Greek god Cronus (Kronos), because both were divinities of the primordial times. Saturn, however, shows some specific traits which are different from his Greek homologue. According to Varro (Latin Language, V, 64), the name of Saturn was connected with satus, derived from the verb serere (“to sow”). On the other hand, the god’s association with agriculture is also demonstrated by his relationship with the goddess Ops, a divinity of the abundance and wealth which ensue from agriculture. From this association, originates the diffused representation of Saturn holding a cornucopia replete of fruits. In Rome, the god was worshipped since remote times on the Capitol, which was known as Saturnius Mons (Saturn’s Mount). The primordial era ruled by Saturn was regarded as a Golden Age (Saturnia regna), during which the social norms were not yet been established and the earth produced spontaneously its fruits. Such a period was ritually re-enacted during the ceremony of the Saturnalia, which was regarded as the most joyful and deep-felt period of the year, during which banquets were prepared, gifts were exchanged and, in a playful atmosphere, the social differences and hierarchies were temporarily cancelled. So happened that the slaves could be served by their masters, while the latter dressed and behaved like servants (Dumézil 1974, p. 281-282). [Image: http://www.summagallicana.it/lessico/s/Saturno.htm]