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In
Roman mythology, Saturn was a god of fertility and agriculture.
He was commonly identified with the Greek god Cronus,
and he was an important god to worship (according to ancient
Romans) if you wanted to live out the year with a full
belly. In Rome, the first Temple of Saturn was consecrated
in the year 498 BCE, and is/was the oldest temple in the
Forum Romanum. Located on the west side of Forum, the
Temple of Saturn is behind the Rostra and the Basilica
Julia, across from the Clivus Capitolinus and the Temple
of Vespasian and Titus. There have been three temples
dedicated to Saturn in the Forum Romanum. The first was
built in the last years of the Roman Kingdom, but was
first consecrated in the first decade of the Roman Republic.
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It
was torn down in 42 BCE and a new temple built in stone;
this second building was in turn destroyed by the fire
of 283 CE, which also destroyed other major parts of the
Forum Romanum. The third temple was constructed in 42
BCE, and many of its original pieces can be seen today.
In the days before the temple decayed into ruin there
was an alter dedicated to Saturn in front of the building;
the remains of this altar are now under a roof just in
front of the Umbilicus Urbis Romae, near the Arch of Septimius
Severus. Inside the temple stood a statue of Saturn, which
would be carried in procession when triumphs were celebrated.
There was even a Roman festival named after Saturn - the
Saturnalia. This festival was celebrated during the winter,
and it was a time of gift giving, feasting, and merriment,
and sacrifices to the gods. |
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