Saturn was an early god in Roman mythology. The ancient Romans probably considered him a god of fertility and planting. The few myths about Saturn that remain depict him as presiding over a golden age of happiness and plenty in the distant past. The name Saturn is probably Etruscan in origin. The Romans later identified Saturn with the Greek god Cronus. Under the influence of the Greek myths, Saturn’s wife was Ops, the goddess of the plentiful harvest.
Each year, the Romans honored Saturn with a festival called the Saturnalia. The festival began on December 17 and lasted seven days. During this period, schools and businesses closed, no criminals could be punished, and Roman armies could not start wars. Slaves and masters became equals for the time of the celebration. In addition, most rules of public conduct were suspended, and entire communities celebrated freely during the Saturnalia.
