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Mars was the Roman god of war. He was the son of Juno and a magical
flower (or Zeus) and initially was the Roman god of fertility and
vegetation, and protector of cattle, but later he became associated with battle. As the god of spring, when his major festivals
were held, he presided over agriculture in general. In his warlike aspect,
Mars was offered sacrifices before combat and was said to appear on the battlefield accompanied by Bellona, a warrior goddess variously identified as his wife, sister or daughter. His wife was also said to be
Nerio.
It is believed that Mars was originally an ancient chthonic god of spring, nature, fertility and cattle. He fused with the
Greek Ares and became a god of death and war as well.
In Rome, his primary temple was on the Capitol, shared with Jupiter and Quirinus. The temple to Mars Ultor ("the avenger") was in the
Forum Augustus. Another
temple to Mars Gradivus ("he who precedes the army in battle") was where
the army gathered before leaving for a war. The Campus Martius ("field
of Mars") was dedicated to him; it was where soldiers and athletes trained. Mars was called Mavors in some poetry (Virgil VIII, 630), and Mamers was his Oscan
name.
In the Regia on the Forum Romanum, the hastae Martiae were kept in a small chamber. Any
movement of the hastae Martiae, the "lances of Mars," was seen as a omen of war. If Rome was attacking, the generals moved lances
and repeated Mars vigila ("Mars awaken").
On March 1, the Feriae Marti was celebrated. On October 19, the
Armilustrium was celebrated; the
weapons of the solders were purifed and stored. Every five years, the Suovetaurillia was celebrated; a pig,
sheep and bull were sacrificed. On February 27 and March 14, the horses race of the Equirria were held. On March 23, the Tubilustrium was celebrated by purifying
weapons and war-trumpets.
Priests of Mars and Quirinus were called Salii ("jumpers"). They were referred to as jumpers because they jumped down streets and sang the Carmen Saliare. A priest of Mars alone was called a flamen Martialis.
In art, Mars is depicted as an armored warrior with a crested helmet. The wolf and
woodpecker are sacred to him. His children are Fuga and Timor.
The month of March and the planet of
Mars was named after him.
Mars, unlike his Greek counterpart, Ares, was more widely worshipped than any of the
other Roman gods, probably because his sons Romulus and Remus were said to have founded Rome; the Romans called
themselves sons of Mars. As the consort of Rhea Sylvia and father of Romulus
and Remus, Mars was considered the father of the Roman people.
He is associated with Quirinus, said to be the Spirit of Romulus, the founder of
the City. Quirinus may have been a Sabine deity, however.
See also:
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