7/22/2023 0 Comments Mars god of war![]() Mars was celebrated throughout the Roman Empire until it was Christianized in the 4th century AD. Increasingly Augustus associated the deity with the Imperial Cult. Augustus also developed a new aspect of the deity, Mars Ultor. He ordered its construction inside the sacred boundary of the city and this signified a greater emphasis on the god. He patronized various cults of Mars and built a new temple to the god, Temple of Mars Ultor in the center of Rome. Augustus, as part of his policy of restoring Rome, placed a greater emphasis on Rome. The Romans had a much higher regard for Mars than the Greeks ever had for Ares. However, Mars always remained distinct and an important figure in the Italian city’s state religion. Over time, the Greek War-God Ares began to influence the conception of the Roman God. However, this archaic triad was later replaced by a new one, Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. This trio was crucial in the public religion of the city on the Tiber. The God of War, Jupiter and Quirinus, an agricultural and war deity, composed the original triad in Rome. Mars was part of the original triad of Gods who were considered to be the most important in the city’s public religion. Mars Silvanus was often invoked by farmers, seeking protection for their herds and harvests. There were several aspects to Mars, and these had their cults. This was once the house of the Kings who originally ruled Rome.īefore the onset of every war, one of the Republic’s two consuls would cry out before the shrine calling on ‘Mars to wake up’. Within the city, there was a shrine or sanctuary where the spears of Mars were kept. People often celebrated these without being fully aware of their meaning and significance. The Salii and others were priests from the patrician order and they would engage in ancient ceremonies such as dancing to honor the god. There were at least three priesthoods dedicated to serving Mars. Here the army would assemble before going on a campaign. One of Rome's most important public spaces were named after him, ‘The Field of Mars’. Among the festivities held in the honor of the god were chariot races and one known as the Armilustrium, when the soldiers' arms were purified before they were put away for the winter. Indeed the month of March is named after the War-God. These were mainly held in March which was the month that marked the end of the agricultural season and the campaigning seasons. There were many festivals and celebrations held in his honor. His worship went back to the earliest day of Rome when it was only a small settlement overlooking the Tiber. Mars was the second most important god in the Roman Pantheon. This indicates that Mars may be a composite of several deities. It is important to note that this god was also the protector of Rome and was an important agricultural deity, who guarded the field and herds. It seems likely that Mars is a local derivative of the Indo-European War-God. The city-states of Etruria greatly influenced the nascent city-state and many have asserted that Rome was a Roman foundation. Some scholars believe that the name ultimately derived from an Etruscan deity. It is widely believed that the name Mars was of non-Latin origin. The myths and fables surrounding God are crucial for any student of Roman history, especially its social and political history. He was also the guardian of Rome and agriculture and central to the city-state's public religion that eventually conquered much of the known world. This deity was so much more than a War-God, who granted victory. Mars, the God of War, was essential in Rome. They regarded themselves as a warrior people who were entrusted with a divine mission to bring civilization and peace to the world. The Romans were a people who were defined by war.
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