Saturn symbol

A crossed sickle shape — Saturn, and lead.

Also known as: Kronos symbol, Lead symbol, Sickle symbol, Crossed h symbol

Astrology & astronomyScientificHistorical & archaeologicalStandard profile

Meanings

Saturn's symbol is usually read as a monogram of the Greek initial of Kronos, drawn as a sickle. Alchemists used it for lead, the heaviest and basest of the seven metals, matching Saturn as the slowest and outermost known planet.

Common modern usageVerified fact
Denotes the planet Saturn in astronomical notation.
Contexts: History
Historically documentedDocumented interpretation
Denoted lead in alchemical writing.
A record of what alchemists wrote, not a claim that the association holds. The planet–metal correspondences were a system of belief, and the chemistry they rest on is not sound.
Medieval and early modern alchemy · Contexts: History
Common modern usageTradition
Is held in astrological tradition to signify limitation, discipline and time.
Recorded as what astrological tradition assigns, not as a finding. Symbolwise does not assert that any planet influences anything, and astrology has no empirical standing.
Contexts: History
Historically documentedDocumented interpretation
Sits at the far end of an ordering the alchemists took seriously: Saturn was the slowest and outermost planet they knew, and lead the heaviest and least noble metal, so the pairing was read as meaningful rather than arbitrary.
Medieval and early modern alchemy · Contexts: History

Visual description

A downward hook or sickle curve with a small cross-stroke through its upper stem, like a lowercase h with a crossed ascender.

Symmetry: none
Orientation: upright

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard, but multiple independent sources agree.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is defined by a current official standard, but multiple independent sources agree.

Sources

Astronomical symbols
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for the character's identity, its documented astronomical and alchemical use, and the fact that astrology assigns it a meaning. Never used to support the astrological claim itself, which is recorded as a tradition rather than a finding.
Planet symbols
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for the character's identity, its documented astronomical and alchemical use, and the fact that astrology assigns it a meaning. Never used to support the astrological claim itself, which is recorded as a tradition rather than a finding.
Unicode Code Chart: Miscellaneous Symbols (U+2600–U+26FF)
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for the character's identity, its documented astronomical and alchemical use, and the fact that astrology assigns it a meaning. Never used to support the astrological claim itself, which is recorded as a tradition rather than a finding.
Alchemical symbol
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for the character's identity, its documented astronomical and alchemical use, and the fact that astrology assigns it a meaning. Never used to support the astrological claim itself, which is recorded as a tradition rather than a finding.

Last reviewed 2026-07-31

Part of

Planetary symbols and their older meanings

Help improve this page

Meanings

Common modern usageVerified fact

Denotes the planet Saturn in astronomical notation.

Contexts: History

Historically documentedDocumented interpretation

Denoted lead in alchemical writing.

A record of what alchemists wrote, not a claim that the association holds. The planet–metal correspondences were a system of belief, and the chemistry they rest on is not sound.

Medieval and early modern alchemy · Contexts: History

Common modern usageTradition

Is held in astrological tradition to signify limitation, discipline and time.

Recorded as what astrological tradition assigns, not as a finding. Symbolwise does not assert that any planet influences anything, and astrology has no empirical standing.