Mars. Depictions of the Roman god of war in early Gaul and Britain are multiform and complex because of two opposed but concurrent forces. First, the imperial-minded Romans applied interpretatio romana (see GAUL), which prompted them to ignore the native names of indigenous gods and simply denote them with Latin names. Secondly, the colonized natives followed what we now call interpretatio celtica, adapting the conqueror's deities to local religious needs, often adding a distinctive indigenous epithet. Thus the Mars of the early Celtic world appears far less bellicose than his Roman antecedent, even though Julius Caesar (1st cent. BC) describes Mars as a popular war-god in Gaul and Lucan's Pharsalia (1st cent. AD) equates the unmistakably warlike Teutates with Mars. Instead, abundant archaeological evidence implies the widespread worship of Mars in the Roman-occupied Celtic world. He became the primary healing god of Roman Britain, especially with the epithet Loucetius, Leucetius, Lucetius [L, light, bright], at the great healing temple of Aquae Sulis Minerva at Bath. Another epithet of the healing god Mars is Lenus, especially as found at Trier, Germany; but Lenus may have pre-dated Roman conquest, as dedications found in Britain speak of Lenus Mars. The animal most associated with Mars's iconography is the goose, which for the Celts evokes the protectiveness of an alert sentry as well as a certain measure of aggression.

Mars's worship sometimes appears to co-opt that of indigenous deities, so that his identity becomes mixed with that of presumably Celtic figures, whose names may appear independently or linked with his as an epithet. Such figures, widely known in the Celtic world, include: Belatucadros, Camulos, Cocidius, Condatis, Mullo, Nodons, Ocelus, Olloudius, Rudianus, Rudiobus, Segomo, Smertrius, Teutates, and Visucius. Additionally, Mars also bears other epithets that define the functions of his cult in specific locales, such as Albiorix, Caturix, Cicollius, Coriaticus, Nabelcus, Rigisamus, Rigonemetis, and Thincsus (this last of German origin).

Bibliography

See Émile Thevenot , Sur les traces des Mars celtiques (Bruges, 1955);
Miranda J. Green , The Gods of the Celts (Gloucester, 1986), 110–17;
Jan de Vries , La Religion des Celtes (Paris, 1963), 63–9;
E. M. Wightman , Roman Trier and the Treveri (London, 1970), 208–17;
G. Barroul , ‘Mars Nabelcus et Mars Albiorix’, Ogam, 15 (1963), 345–68.

Mars in Roman mythology, the god of war and the most important Roman god after Jupiter. He was probably originally an agricultural god, and the month of March is named after him. His Greek equivalent is Ares. Legends of Mars include the story of his love for Venus, and the trap made for them by her husband Vulcan, and from early times this became a favourite subject for artists. The wolf and the woodpecker were regarded as sacred to Mars, and the field of Mars is another name for the Campus Martius of ancient Rome. The hill of Mars is the Areopagus (‘hill of Ares’) of ancient Athens.

Mars is the name given to a small reddish planet which is the fourth in order from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye. From its distinctive colour, which comes from its iron-rich minerals, it is known informally as the red planet. In astrological belief, the influence of the planet is associated with combative, aggressive, or masculine qualities.

Mars in Roman religion and mythology, god of war. In early Roman times he was a god of agriculture, but in later religion (when he was identified with the Greek Ares ) he was primarily associated with war. Mars was the father of Romulus, the founder of the Roman nation, and, next to Jupiter, he enjoyed the highest position in Roman religion. The Salii, his priests, honored him by dancing in full armor in the Campus Martius, the site of his altar. Chariot races and the sacrifice of animals were primary features of the festivals held in his honor in March (named for him) and October. Mars was represented as an armed warrior. His attributes include the spear and shield, and the wolf and woodpecker were sacred to him. He was frequently associated with Bellona, the Roman goddess of war.

Mars

Mars was a major Roman deity, second only to Jupiter* in the Roman pantheon. He began as a protector of agriculture but later became the god of war, honored throughout the realm of the conquering Romans. The Romans admired Greek culture and absorbed Greek deities into their own. They came to identify their own war god, Mars, with the Greek war god, Ares, but Mars was a more dignified and popular figure.

According to legend, Juno, the queen of the gods, gave birth to Mars after being touched by a magic plant. He was originally associated with vegetation and fertility. As the Romans became increasingly warlike, Mars gradually developed into a god of war, but he never lost his connection with agriculture and the plant world entirely. The Romans honored him with festivals in his month, March, which occurs at a time of the year when new growth begins in the fields and military campaigns resume after a winter break.

Mars's high place of honor in the Roman pantheon comes in part from his role as an ancestor of Rome. According to the story of the founding of Rome, Mars was the father of Romulus and Remus, twin boys born to a human priestess and raised by a wolf. Romulus later founded the city of Rome, and the Romans believed that Romulus's divine father would come to their aid in times of crisis or disaster. The wolf and the woodpecker, animals involved in the saving of the twins, were sacred to Mars. Picus, a Roman god who took the form of a woodpecker, was Mars's companion.

One story about Mars relates that the god's sacred shield had fallen from the sky in the time of the early Roman king Numa Pompilius. Believing that the shield was vital to the well-being of Rome, Numa had 11 identical shields made and hung all 12 of them in a shrine to confuse any thief who might try to steal Mars's shield. Numa also established an order of priests called the Salii to guard the shields. For many years, Roman priests continued to wear the old-fashioned armor and to perform ritual war dances during the March festivals of Mars.

deity god or goddess

pantheon all the gods of a particular culture

ritual ceremony that follows a set pattern

Soldiers throughout the empire offered sacrifices to Mars before and after battles. They also honored the goddess Bellona, who appeared as Mars's sister, wife, and daughter in various myths. The Campus Martius, a large field outside Rome where soldiers exercised, was sacred to Mars.

See also Ares; Roman Mythology; Romulus and Remus.

Mars / märz/ 1. Roman Mythol. the god of war and the most important Roman god after Jupiter.The month of March is named after him. Greek equivalent Ares. 2. Astron. a small, reddish planet that is the fourth in order from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye.

Mars Ancient Roman god of war, often depicted as an armed warrior; one of the three protector-deities of the city of Rome itself (with Jupiter and Quirinus). He was originally associated with agriculture but later took on his dominant military aspects; the wolf and woodpecker were sacred to him.