Mars

Mars (Mavors or Mamers) is an old Italian fertility god who came to be known as Gradivus, the strider, and the god of war.

Mars is the father of Romulus and Remus, making the Romans the children of Mars. Mars was usually called the son of Juno and Jupiter.

The Romans named an area beyond the walls of their city for Mars, the Campus Martius 'Field of Mars'. Within the city of Rome were temples honoring Mars. Throwing open the gates of Mars' temple symbolized war.

On 1 March (which is named for Mars), rites in honor of Mars and the New Year, feriae Martis were held. This was the beginning of the Roman year from the period of kings through most of the period of the Roman Republic. Other festivals to honor Mars were the second Equirria (14 March ), agonium Martiale (17 March), Quinquatrus (19 March), and Tubilustrium (23 March). They were probably all connected in some way with the campaign season

The special priest of Mars was the flamen Martialis. There were special flamines (the plural of flamen) for Jupiter and Quirinus, as well. There were also special priest-dancers, known as salii, who performed war-dances in honor of the gods on the 1,9, and 23 of March. In October, the Armilustrum on 19th and the Equus on the Ides appear to have in honor of war (the end of the campaign season) and Mars, as well. (source: Herbert Jennings Rose, John Scheid "Mars" The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization. Ed. Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth. Oxford University Press, 1998.)

The symbols of Mars are the wolf, woodpecker, and lance. Iron is Mars' metal. Certain personifications or goddesses accompanied Mars. These included a personification of war, Bellona, Discord, Fear, Dread, Panic, and Virtue, among others.

Picture
Quirinus
Ares
War Gods
Goddesses of War
Table of Greek and Roman Gods