The City of God · Character

Saturn

Roman god of agriculture and time, often identified with the Greek Cronus.

minor

Also known as Good Saturn, The father Saturn

Saturn shows up with force in Chapter X: The Absurdity of Assigning Multiple Gods to Different Parts of the World. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Interpreted as length of time (Chronos), father of Jove, and associated with the origin of the gods.

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In Chapter X: The Absurdity of Assigning Multiple Gods to Different Parts of the World: Interpreted as length of time (Chronos), father of Jove, and associated with the origin of the gods. Later, in Chapter VIII:…

In Chapter X: The Absurdity of Assigning Multiple Gods to Different Parts of the World: Interpreted as length of time (Chronos), father of Jove, and associated with the origin of the gods.

Later, in Chapter VIII: Concerning the interpretations, consisting of natural explanations, which the pagan teachers attempt to show for their gods.: Pagan god whose myth of devouring his children is interpreted as time consuming what it begets or seeds returning to earth.

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See Saturn in part i book i

Character Web

37 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Patriarchs and Pagan Figures
Diverse Historical and Biblical Figures
Pagan Gods of Healing and War

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This chapter is the dramatic climax because it marks the irreversible psychological and spiritual turning poin…

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In the story

Saturn appears across 14 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter X: The Absurdity of Assigning Multiple Gods to Different Parts of the World
Interpreted as length of time (Chronos), father of Jove, and associated with the origin of the gods.
Chapter VIII: Concerning the interpretations, consisting of natural explanations, which the pagan teachers attempt to show for their gods.
Pagan god whose myth of devouring his children is interpreted as time consuming what it begets or seeds returning to earth.
Book VII
Select god; his myth (devouring children, pruning-knife) is interpreted by Varro in agricultural terms, but Augustine argues these interpretations lead only to temporal, mortal things.
Chapter III: How there is no reason which can be shown for the selection of certain gods, when the administration of more exalted offices is assigned to many inferior gods.
Select god assigned to seeds and sowing.
Chapter IV
Received and entertained by Janus, with whom he divided his kingdom.
XIII
Mentioned as a principal god with dominion over sowings, ultimately identified with Jupiter.
Concerning certain stars which the pagans have called by the names of their gods
Given a star and associated with seeds; placed higher in the heavens than Jupiter.
XVII
Mentioned in relation to Jupiter's uncertain genealogy and kingship.
Chapter XVIII
Mentioned as the father overthrown by Jupiter in the myth.
Chapter XIX: Concerning the interpretations which compose the reason of the worship of Saturn
Pagan god whose worship and myths are interpreted in terms of seed and agriculture.
Concerning the shamefulness of the rites which are celebrated in honour of Liber
Mentioned as insufficient for seeds, leading to the multiplication of gods.
Concerning the Abomination of the Sacred Rites of the Great Mother
Compared to the Great Mother; his mutilation of his father and sacrifice of sons are noted.
XXVII
Mentioned as a figure in Virgil's verse and Euhemerus' history, representing a deified human.
Of the fall of the kingdom of Argos, when Picus the son of Saturn first received his father’s kingdom of Laurentum
Father of Picus, associated with agriculture and the golden age, but some claim he was actually Sterces or Stercutius.

Chapter companion notes

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See Saturn in part i book i

See Saturn in Chapter X: The Absurdity of Assigning Multiple Gods to Different Parts of the World