The Significance of Saturnalia and Roman Mythology

Saturnalia played a significant role in Roman imperial cult as a festival for incorporating gods into the Roman pantheon through human sacrifices. The festival also connected Roman mythology with other deities like Baal and Cybele, ultimately becoming intertwined with Roman culture. Kubrick's awareness of the festival's historical and mythological significance, along with the absorption of Cybele as Magna Mater into Roman culture, could have influenced the thematic choices in his work.