Mars

Mars (archaic and poetic Mavors; in the song of the Arval Brothers, Marmar; the Oscan form is Mamers), an ancient Italian divinity of war and of husbandry, identified by the Græcising Romans with Ares (q.v.). As the father of Romulus he was specially the progenitor of the Roman race, and he shared with Jupiter the honour of being styled Pater, the forms Marspiter and Maspiter being common for Mars Pater. Other titles were Mars Gradivus, as the warlike god; Silvanus, as the rustic god; and Quirinus, from his relation to the state, and his especial care for Roman citizens in their civil capacity as Quirites. His priests, the Sati, danced in complete armour. The wolf and the woodpecker were sacred to him. He had many temples at Rome, the most celebrated of which was that outside the Porta Capena, on the Appian Road, and that of Mars Ultor built by Augustus in the forum. The Campus Martius, where the Romans practised athletic and military exercises, was named in honour of Mars; so was the month of March (Martius), the first month of the Roman year. The Ludi Martiales were celebrated every year in the circus on 1st August. See PLANETS.