Mars, God Mars, God of of

Agriculture Agriculture and Warand War

Symbol of WarSymbol of War

Babylonian god of War – NergalBabylonian god of War – Nergal Roman god of War – MarsRoman god of War – Mars Greek god of War – AresGreek god of War – Ares Astrology – Commander of the Solar Astrology – Commander of the Solar

System, animal instinctsSystem, animal instincts

How everything came to How everything came to be…be…

Romans believed there was first Romans believed there was first Chaos, the first principleChaos, the first principle

From Chaos: From Chaos: – Gaia – the earthGaia – the earth– Tartarus – the depths of the earthTartarus – the depths of the earth– Erebrus – the darkness of TartarusErebrus – the darkness of Tartarus– NightNight– Eros – the “mingling god”Eros – the “mingling god”

From the GodsFrom the Gods

Jupiter, the earth god, Jupiter, the earth god, rises to power and rises to power and controls all beingscontrols all beings

Mortals were created Mortals were created Juno is the sky Juno is the sky

goddessgoddess Sacred union of Jupiter Sacred union of Jupiter

and Juno and Juno Mars is Mars is bornborn

Mars, the father of the Mars, the father of the RomansRomans Most important god Most important god

after Jupiterafter Jupiter Mars mates with Rhea Mars mates with Rhea

Sylvia, who becomes Sylvia, who becomes a goddessa goddess

Twin sons: Remus Twin sons: Remus and Romulusand Romulus

Romulus kills Remus Romulus kills Remus and takes over the and takes over the city of Romecity of Rome

Romulus kills Remus and takes over Romulus kills Remus and takes over the city of Romethe city of Rome

Rome is a city of criminals and has Rome is a city of criminals and has few womenfew women

Romulus invites the Sabine Women Romulus invites the Sabine Women for religious games but the women for religious games but the women are seized by the Romansare seized by the Romans

With Sabine queen, Romulus founds With Sabine queen, Romulus founds RomeRome

Romans : “Sons of Mars”Romans : “Sons of Mars”

Roman-Greek GodsRoman-Greek Gods

Jupiter – ZeusJupiter – Zeus Juno - HeraJuno - Hera Mars – AresMars – Ares Venus – AphroditeVenus – Aphrodite

God of Fields and RipeningGod of Fields and Ripening

Italian god Mars was the protector of Italian god Mars was the protector of fields, ripener of fruits and grainfields, ripener of fruits and grain

Prayers were said before preparing Prayers were said before preparing the landthe land

March was named after himMarch was named after him As Romans turned into warriors from As Romans turned into warriors from

farmers, Mars became the god of warfarmers, Mars became the god of war

God of WarGod of War

Warrior in full battle Warrior in full battle armourarmour

Wolf and the Wolf and the woodpecker are his woodpecker are his symbolssymbols

Lover of Venus, the Lover of Venus, the goddess of love and goddess of love and fertilityfertility

Protector of gardens Protector of gardens and flowers and flowers

City of RomeCity of Rome

Temples of MarsTemples of Mars Mars Gradivus – “he who precedes Mars Gradivus – “he who precedes

the army in battle”the army in battle” Roman army gathered here before Roman army gathered here before

going to wargoing to war Campus Martius – field of Mars: Campus Martius – field of Mars:

training area of the armytraining area of the army Lances of Mars – kept in the centre of Lances of Mars – kept in the centre of

the citythe city

Festivals for MarsFestivals for Mars

Festival of Mars – beginning of the year Festival of Mars – beginning of the year in the pre-Julian calendarin the pre-Julian calendar

Citizens vote on political and criminal Citizens vote on political and criminal mattersmatters

Fields are ready for springFields are ready for spring Warriors,horses and armour are Warriors,horses and armour are

purified for the new year and the new purified for the new year and the new battlesbattles

Salii dance around the city for MarsSalii dance around the city for Mars

1919thth October, war season is over, the October, war season is over, the army is purified for the winter – army is purified for the winter – ArmilustriumArmilustrium

Suovetaurilia – sacrifice of pig (sus), Suovetaurilia – sacrifice of pig (sus), sheep (ovis) and bull (taurus), for sheep (ovis) and bull (taurus), for purifying purposespurifying purposes

Masculine, powerful and aggressiveMasculine, powerful and aggressive

Ares, Greek god of warAres, Greek god of war

Less popular than Less popular than MarsMars

Attributed less Attributed less profound aspects profound aspects of war as brutality of war as brutality and wasteand waste

Very similar to Very similar to Mars but not as Mars but not as important in Greek important in Greek mythologymythology

Mars in AstrologyMars in Astrology Controls the basic Controls the basic

feelings as temper, feelings as temper, anger and sexual anger and sexual desiredesire

Commander of the Commander of the solar systemsolar system

Associated with Associated with Aries which is Aries which is confident, confident, intelligent, intelligent, impulsive, violent impulsive, violent and quick tempered.and quick tempered.

To concludeTo conclude

Maybe lost some of the importance Maybe lost some of the importance in people’s livesin people’s lives

Still occupies mindsStill occupies minds From a feared god to the From a feared god to the

neighbouring planet…neighbouring planet…