ovids metamorphoses contextualizes saturn within the idyllic golden age, marked by justice and peace before his fall. > "during saturn's reign, there were no harsh laws, no fear of punishment, and the earth provided its bounty without toil" (metamorphoses, 1.89112). the transition to the silver age under jupiter represents the fragmentation of saturn's harmonious order, as humanity moves from a natural existence to one structured by labor and hierarchy. plutarch, in "moralia", highlights saturn's role as a philosophical archetype, associating him with leisure, introspection, and the pursuit of wisdom. plutarch remarks, > "in the age of cronus, men lived without care, like the gods, free from toil and pain, sustained by the earth's spontaneous bounty" (moralia, "on exile", 12). this portrayal aligns saturn with the idealized simplicity of a bygone era, a stark contrast to the burdens of mortal existence under later deities. pausanias adds a ritualistic dimension, describing how saturn's worship persisted through the ages. "the most learned antiquaries of elis say that cronus was the first king of heaven, honored by the golden race with a temple in olympia" (description of greece, 5.7.6). this enduring veneration underscores saturn's lasting impact on cultural memory, bridging myth and communal tradition.
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