Altar of Saturn
Ara Saturni | |
Length | 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) |
---|---|
Width | 3.95 m (13.0 ft) |
History | |
Material | Tuff |
Founded | Sixth century BCE |
Site notes | |
Archaeologists | Rodolfo Lanciani |
The altar of Saturn (
Location
Italian archaeologist Rodolfo Lanciani discovered the remains of the altar in 1902 near the Arch of Septimius Severus. It was first thought that the remains were of the Vulcanal. The altar stands in front of the Temple of Saturn, next to the Umbilicus urbis Romae, and south of the senaculum of the Roman Forum.[1][2]
History
The altar was constructed prior to the Temple of Saturn in the sixth century BCE and remained in use to appease the god Saturn until the collapse of the
The Romans had believed that Dīs Pater must be appeased by offering him human heads, and Saturn could be appeased by offering him victims. Despite this, it became practice to appease Dīs Pater with masks with human faces fashioned onto them, and Saturn was appeased with lights of kindling; this is due to a change in the interpretation of phôta, which can mean either "lights" or "man". This change of practice led to the exchange of candles in the festival Saturnalia.[3]
References
- ^ ISBN 9788882654443.
- ^ a b c d Coarelli, Filippo (2007). Rome and environs, an archaeological guide. University of California Press. p. 63.
- ^ Macrobius. Saturnia: Book I (VII). Fifth century.