# Saturn — The City of God character guide

> Saturn in The City of God by Augustine of Hippo.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Good Saturn, The father Saturn

**First appearance:** 0002-part-i-book-i

## Who they are

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

## In the story

### [Chapter X: The Absurdity of Assigning Multiple Gods to Different Parts of the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-x)

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.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-viii)

Pagan god whose myth of devouring his children is interpreted as time consuming what it begets or seeds returning to earth.

### [Book VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-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.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-iii)

Select god assigned to seeds and sowing.

### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-iv)

Received and entertained by Janus, with whom he divided his kingdom.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xv)

Given a star and associated with seeds; placed higher in the heavens than Jupiter.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xvii)

Mentioned in relation to Jupiter's uncertain genealogy and kingship.

### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xix)

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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxi)

Mentioned as insufficient for seeds, leading to the multiplication of gods.

### [Concerning the Abomination of the Sacred Rites of the Great Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxvi)

Compared to the Great Mother; his mutilation of his father and sacrifice of sons are noted.

### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xv)

Father of Picus, associated with agriculture and the golden age, but some claim he was actually Sterces or Stercutius.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/saturn
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters