While we wait for Brad to transfer this WotD over to our forum, allow me to remark that old Khronos, the god with whom the Italic Saturnus was identified when the Roman elite decided that they were to be Greeks, was not a nice chap, eating as he did his children in order to avoid their supplanting him in accordance with a prophecy (the generational conflict in ancient Greece seems to be extreme, judged from the frequency of similar myths—consider, e g, the myth of Oidipos). Of course Zeus himself had similar tendencies—that’s why Athena was born from his forehead, but she forgave him and nobody seems to have blamed him for it—perhaps because doing so could have had dire consequences. What’s sauce for the goose needn’t always be sauce for the gander, as current events teach us….

Henri

PS : For those, like myself, fascinated by planetary philology, the following site, provided by Oslo University, will prove of interest : Planetarisk lingvistikk....

Saturnine (Adjective)
http://www.yourdictionary.com/images/line04.gif

Pronunciation: [‘sæt-ê(r)-nIn]

Definition 1: Pertaining to the planet Saturn (archaic); born under the influence of Saturn, hence gloomy, grumpy, sour, and with a sarcastic attitude.

Usage 1: Although today’s word comes from the name of the planet Saturn, we rarely use it in reference to the planet these days. To say, "The Mercurial day is twenty-four hours long but the Saturnine, only ten," would sound as though we were speaking of quick versus slow and sulky time periods. The adverb is "saturninely" and, yes, someone has succeeded in publishing the noun "saturninity," so you may use it, too.

Suggested usage: Here are both our recent planetary adjectives used in their contemporary senses: "You would expect General Newsance to be less saturnine after such a mercurial rise to the top rank," implying he enjoyed rapid promotion which left him, for some odd reason, rather grumpy. Today’s adjective brings the agent noun "curmudgeon" to mind, "That saturnine old curmudgeon wouldn’t give his grandmother the time of day."

Etymology: Although many think the origin of Saturn’s name (Saturnus) is the Etruscan language, since Saturn was the Roman god of agriculture, it could be another realization of the Proto-Indo-European root for "to sow," as to sow seeds. If so, it is not only a relative of English "sow," but also "seed," which is a form originally meaning "(that which is) sowed." English "seed" comes from the same Germanic source as German "Saat," Dutch "zaad," Swedish "säd." (We thank Gary Hauck of Minneapolis, Minnesota helping chase away any saturninity among us with the fun of today’s word.)

—Dr. Language, yourDictionary.com

Iterman’s April Fool link led me to read about the Saturnalia, the winter solstice festival of ancient Rome when the agricultural deities were honored after the last sowing. This most joyous of festivals was called "the best of days". The holiday season included other festivals as well and lasted from Dec. 13 to Dec. 25 (the ancient Winter Solstice).

It was a period of general relaxation and slaves were allowed to pretend that they ruled their masters. The household chose the Saturnalicius Princeps (Master of the Saturnalia), the "Lord of Misrule," who was free to order others to do his bidding. On the last day it was common to exchange small gifts, such as sigillaria (small pottery dolls) for the children and cerei (candles) for adults.

In line with Henri’s comments on Khronos, there was also a Greek festival Kronia, which had much in common with Saturnalia. It took place on July 30 in honor of Khronos, the god of the grainharvest, who is depicted with a reaping hook. On this day a harvest supper celebrated the final end of the harvest. More broadly it is (like the Saturnalia) a celebration of the Golden Age ruled by Kronos and Rhea, when there was no labor or oppression. Since this was before Zeus brought order to the world, the Kronia is a chaotic festival.  In ancient times, slaves were allowed to run riot in the streets, and were invited to sumptuous banquets by their masters. During the Kronia we were allowed a temporary return to the Golden Age, to equality, luxury, ease and unconstrained freedom.

llka

Sources:

Saturnalia
Kronia

[quote author=Ilka link=board=todays;num=1049721234;start=0#2 date=04/08/03 at 16:36:44]During the Kronia we were allowed a temporary return to the Golden Age, to equality, luxury, ease and unconstrained freedom.

So, one might call it chronic kyros...

-Tim

[quote author=Tim Ward link=board=todays;num=1049721234;start=0#3 date=04/08/03 at 19:54:41]

So, one might call it chronic kyros...

-Tim

Well… it was temporary, so wouldn’t it be acute?

Shannon

 

[quote author=Tims Wife link=board=todays;num=1049721234;start=0#4 date=04/10/03 at 14:34:30]Well… it was temporary, so wouldn’t it be acute?

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose....

Henri

PS : Another translation of this French proverb is as follows

Nothing is so permanent as that which is temporary.

It is said to have been uttered by a French diplomat on the occasion of the award of temporary «mandates» on the territory of the defunct Ottoman Empire by the League of Nations to the victorious European powers (France and England) after WW I. The results we see today. (Thanks, Tim, for enabling me to get the diacritics right !)...