♄

♄ U+2644, ♄ SATURN ← ♃ [U+2643] Miscellaneous Symbols ♅ → [U+2645]

Translingual

Etymology

The Greek letters kappa-rho with an abbreviation stroke at bottom, for Κρόνος (Krónos), the Greek equivalent to the Roman god Saturn. The cross at top was added later, to Christianize the symbol of a pagan god.

Use of ♄ for Saturday, on the left side of the calendar dial of this 16th-century clock-calendar, just above the day-of-the-week hand.

Symbol

♄

1. (astronomy, astrology) Saturn.
2. (alchemy, archaic) lead.
3. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) (botany, obsolete) woody perennial plant.

   (the orbital period of Saturn is 30 years)

4. (rare) Saturday.

   Refers to the Latin phrase dies Saturni, which literally means "Saturn's day".

Derived terms

• (alchemy): 🜪 – lead ore.

Gallery

• 
  Late Classical and Medieval forms
• 
  The Saturn symbol before the cross was added
• 
  A decorative variant in the Netherlands
• 
  As a symbol for lead
• 
  An abstract variant
• 
  Symbol on a royal-blue background
• 
  Mariner logo
• 
  Transit of Saturn

English

Noun

♄ (uncountable)

1. (alchemy) Alternative spelling of lead
   • 1650, Paracelsus, “Of the Nature of Things”, in John French, transl., A New Light of Alchymie, page 74:

     If thou wilt turne ♄ into ♃ make plates of ♄, ſtrow them with Salt Armoniack, cement, and melt them, as aboveſaid, ſo will all the blackneſſe, and darkneſſe bee taken away from the Lead, and it will be in whiteneſſe like fair Engliſh Tin.