Saturnalia

The Museum of Lisbon - Roman Theatre and the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) invite to celebrate Saturn, a god so important that his name was given to the second largest planet in the solar system.

It was precisely between December 15^th and 25^th that the Saturnalia was celebrated in Rome. The highlight of this celebration took place at the Temple of Saturn, located in the Forum, where a sacrifice was made and the woolen bands covering the feet of his statue were removed.

This was an ancient tradition in honor of Saturn at this festive time marking the winter solstice, a time of celebration, sharing and joy that heralded the new year. 

It was in this temple that the reserves of metals such as gold and silver were kept, the treasury of the Roman government, in a demonstration of the importance of Saturn in the Roman pantheon, father of Jupiter and in Greek tradition associated with Chronos, the god of time, that concept that is both so precious and so fleeting.

PROGRAMME

5:30PM-7:30PM - SATURNALIA GAMES (on floors -1 and -2) 

1.    Chronos in exile, stories of time
2.    Gods/planets memory game
3.    The gods descend into to the Roman theatre 

8PM-8:45PM - LECTURE (on floor -2)

Saturn has been observed very closely by the Cassini space probe for thirteen years. This probe provided precious information about the atmosphere, the rings and its moons, which are so different from each other.

José Ribeiro, from the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, researches Saturn's atmosphere, and will share with Saturnalia participants some of the most impactful discoveries made possible by this European and North American space probe, illustrating with the formidable images that Cassini has produced.