Saturnus, Ara: an ancient altar usually distinguished from, but sometimes confused with (e.g., Solinus 1.12), the Aedes Saturni, in front of which it stood. It was in imo Clivo Capitolino (Festus 430L) and was believed to date from before the time of the Trojan War, or even to have been established by Hercules (Dion. Hal. 1.34.4; Solinus 1.12). Macrobius puts it ante senaculum, which suggests that it lay too far east of the Temple of Saturn to be closely associated with it. Worship there was always in the Greek rite with the head uncovered, which was considered proof of its high antiquity. Coarelli has convincingly identified it as the ancient altar traditionally called the Volcanal behind the northeast end of the Rostra Augusti.

DialArch 9-10 (1976-77): 346-77 (F. Coarelli); Coarelli 1983, 202-10.