Uranus and Saturn in Roman Mythology

In the beginning, according to Roman mythology, there was only dark space, until Mother Earth and Eros appeared (representing the attraction which brings beings together). Then appeared Nyx or "Night" and Erebus who in their turn gave birth to Ether and Henera, the day.

Night's dark mists would envelop the edges of the world and seeped into the deep hollows of the earth. Nyx would draw these mists across the heavens to bring night to the world while their daughter Hemera scattered them, bringing day.

Uranus and Mother Earth

Mother Earth was both mother and husband to Uranus. Together they produced the Titans, the first race, then the one-eyed Cyclopes, then three one handed and fifty-headed monsters called the Hecantoncheires.

Uranus was horrified at his offspring and cast the Cyclopes and Hecatoncheires into the Pit of Darkness. However the last born, Cronus (Saturn) was unafraid of his father and volunteered to help his angry mother by wounding Uranus with a sharp scythe, casting his genitals into the sea.

The drops of blood seeping into the earth gave birth to the formidable Furies, to Giants and to Nymphs, the Meliae. The debris floating on the waves gave form to a young Goddess, Aphrodite (Venus).

Saturn and Roman Mythology

With Uranus rendered impotent, Saturn stole the throne and creation continued, witnessing the births of Death, Sleep, the Fates who shared out good and evil to every mortal born. Sorrow, Hunger, Gaiety, Murder, Lies, Injustice and Disease, to name but a few.

Saturn though, perhaps fearful that one day he would be overthrown by one of his sons (as predicted by an oracle) ate each of his children as it was born.

His wife Rhea was immensely grieved and presented him with a stone in swaddling clothes to swallow, instead of her sixth child. She hid her child Zeus (Jupiter) in Crete, where Mother Earth presented him to the nymphs for safe keeping.

Here he was fed on honey and ambrosia brought to him by doves and an eagle, and milk from the goat Amaltheia. In his gratitude, Jupiter gave to the nymphs one of the goat's horns to which he bestowed the quality of continually refilling itself with whatever food or drink was required: the "horn of plenty".

Uranus and Saturn in Astrology

Uranus, in astrology, is the planet associated with sudden upheaval and revolution. As the "Divine Awakener", this planet incites the urge to break through and break out. Saturn, in astrology, is associated with limitation, fear, delay, old age, the father and time.

Sources

Bulfinch, T. Bulfinch's Greek and Roman Mythology.Dover Publications 2003.
Doniger, W. Roman and European MythologiesChicago University Press 1992..