Temple of Saturn

The Temple of Saturn stands in the Roman Forum at the foot of the Capitoline Hill. Its ruins occupy the western end of the Forum, where the oldest Republican temple after the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus once stood. The temple’s foundations date back to 497 BC, though ancient writers gave different accounts of its early history. Construction may have begun under Tarquinius Superbus in the late kingdom. Titus Larcius dedicated it early in the Republic, when it became the state treasury. The aerarium housed Rome’s gold, silver and official weights until the archives moved to the Tabularium. The present ruins show the third rebuilding after a fire in the 4th century. Eight surviving columns and the pediment carry the inscription ‘Senatus Populusque Romanus incendio consumptum restituit’. The porch’s Ionic capitals belong to the Late Antique style, while shafts of Egyptian granite were reused from other buildings. Inside, a wooden statue of Saturn stood veiled except on 17 December, when wool bands were removed for the Saturnalia. On that day slaves received temporary freedom and gifts were exchanged. Visitors find the temple’s front porch and eight columns still rising above the Forum pavement. The pediment’s inscription records its restoration after the fire of 360. The podium once displayed public notices, and the reused materials show how Rome organised its architectural heritage. The site marks where the Republic stored its wealth and where the Saturnalia festival began each year.