Mars (mythology)

Mars is an important god in ancient Roman religion and mythology. He is the god of war and also protects farming. Mars is the son of Jupiter and Juno. He was very important to the Roman army's military gods.

Many festivals to honor Mars were held in March, the month named after him, and in October. These months marked the start and end of the time for war and farming.

Because of Greek culture, Mars was often linked with the Greek god Ares. But Mars was different. While Ares was seen as causing trouble, Mars stood for the strength needed for peace. He was also seen as a father to the Roman people.

In stories about how Rome began, Mars is said to have fathered Romulus and Remus with Rhea Silvia. A she-wolf cared for these two boys when they were young. Mars also had a story with Venus, linking different parts of Rome’s beginning. Venus was the divine mother of Aeneas, who was also said to have helped start Rome.

Name

The word Mārs comes from an old Latin word. In some old poems, it was also called Māvors. This name is related to an old word from another language called Oscan, where the god was called Māmers.

Words like "martial" (used in "martial arts" or "martial law") and names like Marcus, Mark, and Martin come from Mars' name.

Birth

Mars is usually seen as the son of Jupiter and Juno, like Ares, the son of Zeus and Hera.

One version told by Ovid says Mars was born from Juno alone. After Jupiter gave birth to Minerva without a mother, Juno wanted to do the same. She asked the goddess Flora for help, who gave her a special flower. Using this flower, Juno became pregnant and later gave birth in Thrace near the shore of Marmara.

Ovid shared this story in his work called the Fasti, which talks about the Roman calendar. This tale might explain why the Matronalia, a festival for married women honoring Juno as a goddess of childbirth, happened on the first day of Mars’s month. In the very old Roman calendar, March was the first month, so Mars would have been born at the start of the year. Ovid is the only one who tells this story, and it shows that Mars was linked to plants and cared for by women.

Consort

Mars had a partner named Nerio or Neriene. She stood for Mars' strength and power. Her name came from the Sabine people.

The story of Venus and Mars was also popular. In art, they were shown as a couple, with Cupid nearby. Their union showed the ideas of love and war. Artists liked to paint scenes where Mars looked calm and peaceful.

Essential nature

Mars was an important god in ancient Roman religion. He was the god of war and also a guardian of farming. This showed how early Romans connected war and farming.

Mars was the son of the gods Jupiter and Juno. He was very important to the Roman army. Many festivals for Mars were held in March and October. These months marked the start and end of the time for both war and farming. Mars was linked with courage and strength, qualities admired in Roman soldiers and leaders. Later, Mars was also seen as a protector of Rome and its people during war.

Sacred animals

Mars had two special wild animals: the woodpecker and the wolf. Romans thought these animals lived together in the same hills and woods.

The woodpecker was important to Mars because it is a brave bird with a strong beak. People carried it as a charm to stay safe. The wolf was also linked to Mars, especially in the story of how a she-wolf cared for Mars's babies.

The goose was also connected to Mars in some places, seen as a strong and protective animal.

Sacrificial animals

In ancient Roman religion, people usually offered animals they ate to the gods. Mars often got whole male animals as gifts, with bulls being common. Two special gifts for Mars were the suovetaurilia, which included a pig, ram, and bull, and the October Horse, a special horse sacrifice.

Temples and topography in Rome

The earliest place in Rome to honor the god Mars was the Altar of Mars in the Campus Martius, outside the city's sacred boundary. The Romans believed this altar was set up by Numa Pompilius, a leader who came after Romulus. The area was used for raising horses and training young riders.

During the Roman Republic, there was no temple at the altar, but a covered walkway connected it to the Porta Fontinalis. Newly elected leaders placed their special chairs by the altar and used it for important ceremonies. The main Temple of Mars, dedicated to his role as a warrior, was built outside the city's sacred boundary to keep a promise made during a hard time in 388 BCE. Soldiers met there before going to war, and it was also where a big parade of Roman cavalry happened each year on July 15. Later, Augustus built a grand Temple to Mars Ultor, honoring Mars as the avenger of Julius Caesar. The temple became a place to keep important military symbols that were lost and then found.

Iconography and symbol

Mars, the Roman god of war, was shown in art in many ways. He could look like an older man with a beard or a younger man without a beard. Even when not wearing clothes, he often had a helmet or held a spear to show he was a warrior. Mars appeared on early Roman coins and small statues.

In one famous artwork from the Altar of Peace, Mars is shown as a proud and important man. He wears a special helmet and military clothes, holding a spear with laurel leaves to show peace won through strength. The spear was very important to Mars, like the lightning bolt was to Jupiter. A special spear said to belong to Mars was kept in a sacred place in Rome. People believed it would move when there was danger or war coming.

Priesthoods

In ancient Rome, Mars was honored by special religious leaders. The main priest of Mars was called the Flamen Martialis, one of three major priests in a group of fifteen called flamens. Mars was also served by the Salii, twelve young men from important families who dressed like old warriors and danced in parades around the city each March.

Festivals and rituals

The festivals of Mars mainly happened in March, the month named after him, with a few also in October. These months marked the start and end of the time for soldiers to go to war and for farming. Some of these special days included races with horses and chariots in a place called the Campus Martius. A few March festivals celebrated the new year, because March used to be the first month of the old Roman calendar.

Some important dates were: February 27 had races with chariots or horses, March 1 was considered Mars's birthday, and March 14 featured more chariot races. On March 14 or 15, there was a festival called Mamuralia. March 17 had a special ceremony, and March 23 was for cleaning and preparing the army. In October, the 15th had a chariot race and a special horse event, and the 19th was for cleaning weapons. Mars was also part of other festivals like Robigalia and Consualia, though they were not just for him. Starting in 217 BCE, Mars was honored during a special meal for gods called a lectisternium.

Mars was mentioned in some old Roman songs. The Arval Brothers sang to Mars while doing a special dance, and Mars's priests, the Salii, sang a very old song called the Carmen Saliare while moving sacred shields around the city.

Name and cult epithets

Mars had many titles in ancient Roman religion. The Roman leader Augustus linked Mars closely to the empire. The historian Ammianus Marcellinus wrote that Mars was still respected as a god in his time. The emperor Julian honored Mars with special ceremonies.

Mars Gradivus was a god soldiers turned to for bravery in battle. Soldiers would promise to fight bravely in his name. His temple was where armies would gather before going to war. Priests called the Salii would perform dances in armor to honor him.

Mars Quirinus protected Roman citizens. He was seen as a god of peace, especially when Rome was not at war.

Mars was also called Grabovius in some rituals. In prayers for farming, Mars was called Pater, meaning "Father Mars." He was asked to help with crops.

Mars Silvanus was a name used in forests to help cattle stay healthy.

Augustus created the cult of Mars Ultor to remember important events. The temple of Mars Ultor became an important place for Roman leaders.

Mars was also linked with many local gods in places far from Rome, especially in areas like Gaul, Spain, and Britain. In these places, Mars was often seen as a healer.

On the calendar

Mars gave his name to the third month in the Roman calendar, Martius. This is why the English word March comes from his name. The planet Mars was also named after him.

In many languages, Tuesday is linked to Mars or the idea of war. For example, in Latin it was called martis dies, meaning 'Mars's Day'. This idea is still used in languages like Portuguese (marte), Spanish (martes), French (mardi), Italian (martedì), Romanian (marți), and Catalan (dimarts). In Irish, the day is called An Mháirt, and in Albanian it is e Marta. The English word Tuesday comes from Old English Tiwesdæg, which means 'Tiw's Day'. This refers to the Old English version of the war god *Tîwaz, or Týr in Norse.