Class topics: History of Mars
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History of Mars
Chronology of Mars
Mythology of
Mars in Images
Before the red planet was called Mars by the Romans, this planet was called
Ares by the Greeks. Although these two gods are commonly equated they are
very different! Mars had a much better reputation than Ares. Mars was noble
and honorable, an agricultural god, responsible for springtime, fertility
and protecting crops and animals from diseases. Ares was considered savage
and brutal concerned only with war. He was not a popular Greek god. Mars, on
the other hand, was one of the most popular and worshipped Roman gods second
only to Jupiter.
Mars
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The god of war, and one of the
most prominent and worshipped gods. In early Roman history he was a god of
spring, growth in nature, and fertility, and the protector of cattle. Mars
is also mentioned as a chthonic god (earth-god) and this could explain why
he became a god of death and finally a god of war. He is the son of Jupiter
and Juno. According to some sources, Mars is the father of Romulus and Remus
by the Vestal Ilia (Rhea Silvia). Because he was the father of these
legendary founders of Rome, and thus of the Roman people, the Romans styled
themselves 'sons of Mars'.
Mars
His main sanctuaries where the temple on the Capitol, which he shared with
Jupiter and Quirinus, the temple of Mars Gradivus ("he who precedes the army
in battle") where the Roman army gathered before they went to war, and the
temple of Mars Ultor ("the avenger"), located on the Forum Augustus. The
Campus Martius ("field of Mars"), situated beyond the city walls, was also
dedicated to him. Here the army was drilled and athletes were trained. In
the Regia on the Forum Romanum, the 'hastae Martiae' ("lances of Mars") were
kept. When these lances 'moved', it was seen as a portent of war. The
warlord who was to lead the army into battle had to move the lances while
saying 'Mars vigila' ("Mars awaken"). As Mars Gradivus, the god preceded the
army and led them to victory.
He had several festivals in his honor. On March 1, the Feriae Marti was
celebrated. The Armilustrium was held on October 19, and on this day the
weapons of the soldiers were ritually purified and stored for winter. Every
five years the Suovetaurilia was held. During these fertility and cleansing
rites, a pig (sus), a sheep (ovis) and bull (taurus) were sacrificed. The
Equirria were on February 27 and March 14, on which horse races were held.
The Quinquatrus was on March 19 and the Tubilustrium on March 23, on which
weapons and war-trumpets were cleansed. The priests of Mars, who also served
Quirinus, were called the Salii ("jumpers"), derived from the procession
through the streets of the city which they completed by jumping the entire
way and singing the Carmen Saliare. Mars' own priest was called the flamen
Martialis.
Mars is portrayed as a warrior in full battle armor, wearing a crested
helmet and bearing a shield. His sacred animals are the wolf and the
woodpecker, and he is accompanied by Fuga and Timor, the personifications of
flight and fear. The month March (Martius) is named after him (wars were
often started or renewed in spring). His Greek equivalent is the god Ares.
Ares
Ares, the Greek god of war, is tall and handsome, but vain and as cruel as
his brother Hephaestus was kind. His sister Eris, the goddess of strife, is
his constant companion, but he is also attended by his sons Deimos and
Phobos, as well as Enyo, an old war-goddess.
Ares
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When Ares heard the clashing of
arms, he grinned with glee, put on his gleaming helmet, and leapt into his
war chariot. Brandishing his sword, he rushed into the thick of battle, not
caring who won or lost as long as blood was shed. A vicious crowd followed
at his heels, carrying with them Pain, Panic, Famine and Oblivion. Once in a
while, Ares was wounded. He was immortal but whenever he would get hurt he
would run back to his father, Zeus and was healed. Needless to say, Zeus was
very disgusted with his son. Ares was mainly worshipped in Thracia, a region
known for its fierce people.
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