1. Mars, God of Agriculture and War

2. Symbol of War Babylonian god of War – Nergal Roman god of War – Mars
Greek god of War – Ares
Astrology – Commander of the Solar System, animal instincts

3. How everything came to be…
Romans believed there was first Chaos, the first principle
From Chaos:
Gaia – the earth
Tartarus – the depths of the earth
Erebrus – the darkness of Tartarus
Night
Eros – the “mingling god”

4. From the Gods
Jupiter, the earth god, rises to power and controls all beings
Mortals were created
Juno is the sky goddess
Sacred union of Jupiter and Juno  Mars is born

5. Mars, the father of the Romans
Most important god after Jupiter
Mars mates with Rhea Sylvia, who becomes a goddess
Twin sons: Remus and Romulus
Romulus kills Remus and takes over the city of Rome

6. Romulus kills Remus and takes over the city of Rome
Rome is a city of criminals and has few women
Romulus invites the Sabine Women for religious games but the women are seized by the Romans
With Sabine queen, Romulus founds Rome
Romans : “Sons of Mars”

7. Roman-Greek Gods Jupiter – Zeus Juno - Hera Mars – Ares
Venus – Aphrodite

8. God of Fields and Ripening
Italian god Mars was the protector of fields, ripener of fruits and grain
Prayers were said before preparing the land
March was named after him
As Romans turned into warriors from farmers, Mars became the god of war

9. God of War Warrior in full battle armour
Wolf and the woodpecker are his symbols
Lover of Venus, the goddess of love and fertility
Protector of gardens and flowers

10. City of Rome

11. Temples of Mars Mars Gradivus – “he who precedes the army in battle”
Roman army gathered here before going to war
Campus Martius – field of Mars: training area of the army
Lances of Mars – kept in the centre of the city

12. Festivals for Mars
Festival of Mars – beginning of the year in the pre-Julian calendar
Citizens vote on political and criminal matters
Fields are ready for spring
Warriors,horses and armour are purified for the new year and the new battles
Salii dance around the city for Mars

13. 19th October, war season is over, the army is purified for the winter – Armilustrium
Suovetaurilia – sacrifice of pig (sus), sheep (ovis) and bull (taurus), for purifying purposes
Masculine, powerful and aggressive

14. Ares, Greek god of war Less popular than Mars
Attributed less profound aspects of war as brutality and waste
Very similar to Mars but not as important in Greek mythology

15. Mars in Astrology
Controls the basic feelings as temper, anger and sexual desire
Commander of the solar system
Associated with Aries which is confident, intelligent, impulsive, violent and quick tempered.

16. To conclude Maybe lost some of the importance in people’s lives
Still occupies minds
From a feared god to the neighbouring planet…