ROLE: God of War
SYMBOL: Vulture, Dog
PARENTS: Zeus and Hera
Mars was initially a rustic god called Silvanus; living in fields and forests, he was an agricultural god. His main festival, Quinquatrus, was celebrated at the spring equinox and thus the month March is named after him.
Mars had twelve sacred spears that were kept in a shrine on the Palatine Hill but the greatest temple to Mars was the Temple of Mars Ultor, or Mars "the Avenger, built by Augustus to celebrate his victory over the assassins of his murdered adopted-father, Julius Caesar. Sacrifices to Mars were made by generals before battles and after victories; he even received a portion of the booty. During battles, Mars was thought to arrive with four companions - Honos ("Honour") and Virtus ("Virtue") for the Roman soldiers, and Pavor ("Terror") and Pallor ("Paleness") to be inflicted on Rome's enemies.
SYMBOL: Vulture, Dog
PARENTS: Zeus and Hera
Mars was initially a rustic god called Silvanus; living in fields and forests, he was an agricultural god. His main festival, Quinquatrus, was celebrated at the spring equinox and thus the month March is named after him.
Mars had twelve sacred spears that were kept in a shrine on the Palatine Hill but the greatest temple to Mars was the Temple of Mars Ultor, or Mars "the Avenger, built by Augustus to celebrate his victory over the assassins of his murdered adopted-father, Julius Caesar. Sacrifices to Mars were made by generals before battles and after victories; he even received a portion of the booty. During battles, Mars was thought to arrive with four companions - Honos ("Honour") and Virtus ("Virtue") for the Roman soldiers, and Pavor ("Terror") and Pallor ("Paleness") to be inflicted on Rome's enemies.