Saturn (Saturnus), an ancient Italian god of grain and agriculture. He also had many features in common with the Greek Demeter. His wife was Ops. Later, Saturn was identified with the Greek Kronos, and Ops with the Greek Rhea. Father of Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto. He was once the ruler of the world, the gods, and the sky until his sons rebelled against him and took his power away. Jupiter took his father’s place in the sky, Neptune in the sea, and Pluto in the underworld.
It was believed that there was a golden age on earth during his rule. He taught people how to cultivate the land and the vine. He was also the first to establish laws in Italy.
Saturnalia, his feast day, was celebrated in Rome for seven days at the end of December. The temple dedicated to Saturn was built on Capitoline Hill in 497 BCE.
- Kempiński Andrzej, Encyklopedia mitologii ludów indoeuropejskich, Warszawa 2001
- Schmidt Joël, Słownik mitologii greckiej i rzymskiej, Katowice 1996
