The altar of Saturn (Ara Saturni) is an archaic rock-cut altar, situated in front of the Temple of Saturn and dedicated to the god Saturn. Constructed in the sixth century BCE, it continued to be used until the collapse of the Roman Empire in 476 CE. It is located west of the Umbilicus Urbis Romae and the Arch of Severus, east of the Temple of Concord on the modern day stretch of Via del Foro Romano.
The remains of the altar were uncovered by Rodolfo Lanciani in 1902 CE and were identified as the shrine of "Volcanale" at the time. Ancient sources state that the altar of Saturn is situated nearby another altar dedicated to god Dīs Pater and goddess Proserpina; that altar is believed to have hosted the Saturnalia festival.
In Roman mythology, Saturn ruled during the Golden Age, and he continued to be associated with wealth. The importance of the archaic cultic altar was then transferred to the temple of Saturn which not only housed the treasury (aerarium), but also the state archives and the insignia and official scale for the weighing of metals were also housed there.
Surrounding the altar of Saturn in the Roman Forum, a number of notable structures were built during the later periods of Roman History, including Vicus Jugarius, Clivus Capitolinus, Basilica Julia, Temple of Vespasian and Titus, Temple of Concordia, Arch of Tiberius, Tabularium, Arch of Septimius Severus, Umbilicus Urbis Romae, Rostra, and Via Sacra etc.
circa 700/600 BCE-
The altar of Saturn, in some form, existed before the first temple of Saturn was ever constructed. The altar, according to some traditions, was believed to have predated the temple by at least 600-700 years, possibly from a time before the Trojan War (Festus 430-432). It was erected by the Pelasgians (indigenous inhabitants of the Aegean Sea region prior to the emergence of Greeks), some time in the early to mid 12th century BCE, in honour of Saturn, the first god of the capitol, which was named Saturnia to honour him.
circa 700/600 BCE
Altar
A carved tuffa stone "shrine" has been identified as the "altar of Saturn", is rectangular and measures 3.95 by 2.8 metres (13.0 by 9.2 feet). Above the carved bed rock a rectangular structure was constructed from blocks of tuff.
If this is not the altar of Saturn It is most likely that the remains of the altar are still buried under the modern day Via del Foro Romano.
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The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
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