The most famous gods of people gave their names to the heavenly bodies. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter - all these names are taken from ancient Roman mythology. The ancients did not ignore the planet Saturn. The mythology associated with this celestial body originates in the beliefs of various peoples who inhabited our planet in ancient times.
Ancient India and China
In Indian beliefs, each known celestial body corresponded to a certain god. Like many ancient peoples, the Indians were not monotheists - the names of many outlandish and amazing entities that are so rich in Indian mythology have come down to us. Saturn, like other celestial bodies, personified one of the oldest and most powerful Indian gods - Shani. This disgusting ruler was depicted riding a large black bird - a crow or a kite. For an earthly observer, one of the slowest celestial bodies is Saturn. The mythology of India perfectly conveyed the sluggishness and old age of Shani.
Ancient Egypt
The ancient Egyptian astronomers did not ignore this celestial body. Egyptian mythology of the planet Saturndesignates this celestial body as the hypostasis of the god Horus. The Egyptians portrayed him as a creature with a human body and a bull or falcon head. In Egypt, Horus was highly valued - according to legend, it was he who ruled the kingdom of the living, was a brave and fair ruler.
Ancient Greece
In ancient Greece, the planet Saturn was identified with the titan Kronos. According to legend, the ancient Kronos at the dawn of time ruled the world. But the moira predicted to him that one of the children of Kronos would overthrow him and himself become the supreme god. Therefore, Kronos ate his offspring. This continued until his wife decided to save her son, and brought Kronos instead of the baby Zeus an oblong stone wrapped in swaddling clothes. Kronos did not see the substitution and swallowed the stone. This was the beginning of his end. The grown Zeus overthrew Kronos and himself became the king of the gods. Kronos lost his power on Olympus forever.
The ancient Greeks did not like Kronos, did not build monuments to him, considering him a killer and devourer of children. But in ancient Rome, a completely different fate awaited him.
Ancient Rome
On the Apennine Peninsula, the ancient planet was first given the name "Saturn" known to us. The mythology associated with it is in many ways similar to the ancient Greek version. But the Romans treated Saturn with respect. According to their beliefs, after the overthrow of Olympus, Saturn came to the sunny Italian land and began to rule people along with Janus. He taught people how to farm and garden, showed how to grow grapes and get wine. He was revered by the Romans as the ruler of the "Golden Age" in which there was norich and poor, and all were he althy and young. One of the names of the territory of the ancient Romans is Saturn.
Mythology connects people and gods through various mysteries and ceremonies. One of the most ancient Roman temples, built in 497 BC, was dedicated to this ancient deity. According to custom, the state treasury was kept in the temples of Saturn.
Besides, Saturn was dedicated to a big holiday held in early December - Saturnalia. At this time, the servants and gentlemen changed places, everyone exchanged gifts and had fun. These festivities were seen as a memory of a golden age of abundance, equality and freedom. The celebration lasted for about a week. Despite such uninhibited veneration of Saturn, in ancient Roman frescoes this titan was depicted as an evil, stern and rather greedy old man. All his we alth was earned by hard work, and he was not going to share with others. It was believed that people who live off their own labor will surely be heard and rewarded by Saturn.
