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Table of Contents
Mars was a major Roman deity who began as a protector of agriculture and later became the god of war, honored throughout the realm of the victorious Romans.
See the fact file below for more information on Mars, or you can download our 26-page Mars worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
ORIGIN OF MARS
- According to Roman mythology, there were two circulating stories about the origin of Mars. In one, he was widely assumed to be the son of both Jupiter and Juno.
- In the other, he was depicted as the sole offspring of Juno. According to Roman legend, Juno, the queen of the Roman gods, gave birth to Mars after being touched by a flower that made female creatures pregnant without the need for a male.
- Juno put it to the test on a barren heifer, who immediately gave birth to a calf. She used the flower on herself and conceived Mars after becoming convinced of its power.
- Originally a deity of farm and vegetation, Mars soon took the role of a god of war when Romans began to engage in conquering lands. However, he did not completely abandon his lordship over agriculture, as he is still worshipped every March.
MARS IN ROMAN MYTHOLOGY
- Although the meaning of the name “Mars” is unknown, the name was clearly derived from the names of two Italian deities.
- One was Mavors, a proto-Italic deity about whom little is known, while the other was the Etruscan deity Meris, who was often illustrated as an infant and may have been an Etruscan parallel to the Greek Heracles.
- Mars was a significant Roman deity, ranking second only to Jupiter among the Roman gods and goddesses. He began as the god of agriculture but later evolved into the god of war, revered throughout the conquering Romans’ realm.
- In another myth, Mars was said to have played a role in the founding of Rome. According to legend, Numitor, the king of a nearby city, was ousted from power by his younger brother.
- Rhea Silvia, the former king’s daughter, was compelled to become a Vestal Virgin and take a vow of chastity in order to avoid bearing a child who could one day reclaim the throne.
- She was, however, visited by Mars and gave birth to twin sons, Romulus and Remus, the founders of the Roman empire.
- The Romans also referred to him as Mars Ultor, which translates as “Mars the Avenger”.
- This was just one example of how the gods were used for political advantage. Finally, Mars was known as Mars Augustus, which translates as “Mars who is awesome” and was later used by Roman emperors to define their own excellent omnipotence.
RELATION TO OTHER GODS
- Mars was the son of Jupiter and Juno, the king and queen of the Roman deities.
- Mars’ siblings included Bellona, the goddess of war; Vulcan, the god of blacksmithing and the forge; and Juventus, the goddess of youth.
- Mars had numerous half-siblings as a result of his father’s indiscretions. They included Mercury, the messenger god of commerce; Proserpina, Ceres’ child famous for being abducted by Pluto; and Minerva, the goddess of wisdom.
- Many people admired Mars as a symbol of primal masculinity. Bellona and Nerio, both goddesses of war linked to particular cults in early Rome, were among his consorts.
- He was famous for his illegitimate affair with Venus, the goddess of love and sexual desire and consort of Vulcan.
- In a separate tradition, it is said that Mars married Anna Perenna, the goddess of time and the passing of the years. They turned out to be a fiery couple.
- Mars’ passion may also have been violent, as when he sexually assaulted Rhea Silvia, the Vestal Virgin and pivotal figure in the founding of Rome and mythical mother of Romulus and Remus.
- Mars had many children as a result of his affairs. He had children associated with a variety of emotional and psychological states with the goddess of love Venus.
- He had Timor and Metus, the gods of fear and dread, and Concordia, Timor’s twin sister, who embodied the qualities of harmony, peace, and fellowship.
- Mars also had a group of children widely recognized as the Cupids, the winged creatures who represented and ruled over numerous aspects of love and erotic desire.
SYMBOLISM AND POPULAR CULTURE
- Mars’ iconography has also kept him relevant in everyday life. In Roman art, the warrior god’s spear became one of his most important attributes.
- Mars, whether depicted as a bearded man or smooth-faced youth, always carried his spear.
- The woodpecker and the wolf are two animals that are frequently associated with Mars.
- According to Plutarch, a Greek historian, the woodpecker is sacred to Mars because it is a brave and spirited bird with a beak so strong that it can overturn oak trees by pecking them until it reaches the innermost part of the tree.
- The woodpecker was also thought to protect paeonia, a plant that grew in the woods and was used to treat the female reproductive system.
- A myth states that the herb should only be picked at night to avoid the woodpecker poking out the seeker’s eyes.
- Mars was so important to Roman life as a protector and ancestor that his influence can still be felt today.
- Mars’ name and symbol are associated not only with the military and masculinity, but also with how we refer to the planets and our calendar.
- Mars’ legacy, like that of many other ancient deities, lives on in the identification of celestial bodies. Mars, the fourth planet from the sun, has been affiliated with wars and bloodshed since ancient times, most likely due to the planet’s red appearance.
- Mars’ moons are named after the mythical sons of Mars and Venus, Phobos, which means fear, and Deimos, meaning terror.
- Celebrations of Mars were held in the spring and fall, at the start and end of the agricultural and military seasons, respectively.
- As a result, the month of March, or Martius in Latin, was named after Mars. Equirria horse races were held on February 27 and March 14, and the Feriae Marti on March 1.
- Mars was considered to be the paradigm of masculinity, so the symbol derived from his iconography is still used to represent the male gender today.
Mars (Roman God) Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Mars across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Mars, who was the Roman god of war.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Mars (Roman God) Facts
- God of War
- Family Tree
- Mars Symbolism
- Festival for Mars
- Red Planet
- Men Are from Mars
- Father of Founders
- War Deities
- Mars and Ares
- Costs of War
- Mind of a Warrior
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Roman god Mars’ powers?
Mars was known as the Roman god of war. He loved violence and conflict. He was seen as representing military power and the noise and blood of battle. Since he was the father of Romulus and Remus, it was believed he would come to the aid of Rome during times of conflict or war.
How did the Roman god Mars become a god?
The Romans admired Greek culture and learned about their gods. They decided to identify their war god, Mars, with the Greek war god, Ares. But Mars was more popular and dignified than Ares. According to legend, Juno, the queen of the gods, gave birth to Mars after she was touched by a magic plant.
Are Ares and Mars the same god?
In Greek mythology, Ares was the god of battle. He wasn’t particularly well-liked and wasn’t worshipped in Greece very much. He personified war’s violent and unpleasant facets. Mars, on the other hand, was the Roman god of war who was quite popular. He embodied the Roman concepts of military honor and glory. As a result, while they bear some resemblance to one another, they are not the same deity.
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Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.