Mars, Roman God of War: Family, Symbolism, Magick

Mars was the Tutelary God of ancient Rome, the Roman God of war, and one of the most important Gods in ancient Rome, second only to his father Jupiter.

The month of March is named for Him and His feast days are Feriae Marti on March 1st and Armilustrium on October 19.

Family

Mars is the son of Juno and Jupiter. His wife is the warrior Goddess Bellona and his lover is Venus, Goddess of love. He is said to be the father of Romulus the legendary father of Rome and thus the ancestor of all Romans.

Myth of Mars’ Birth

The myth says that Juno was envious of Jupiter’s generation of Minerva alone without her participation. She then asked Flora for help, who showed her a flower that grew in the Aetolian countryside and allowed her to conceive just by contact.

Thus she became the mother of Mars, who she had raised by Priapus, who taught him the art of war. The legend is of late tradition, as demonstrated by Minerva’s descent from Jupiter, which follows the Greek myth.

Flora, on the contrary, bears witness to a more ancient history: the Norse equivalent Thor was born from the earth, Jǫrð and so were the many Hellenic deities.

Mars and Roman Mythology

Father of Romulus, the first king of Rome, he was the warrior god par excellence, partly associated with atmospheric phenomena such as storms and lightning.

Together with Quirinus and Jupiter it was part of the so-called ‘archaic Capitoline Triad’, which following the Etruscan culture, will instead be made up of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva.

Later, identifying him with the Greek Ares, he was said to be the son of Juno and Jupiter and inserted into a Hellenized mythological context. In the text of a prayer in Cato’s ‘De agri cultura’ he is identified as the ‘agrarian’ divinity.

The Latin author invokes him to protect the fields from every type of misfortune and disease.

Symbolism and Practices

Furthermore, the God represented the virtue and strength of nature and youth, which, in the past, was dedicated to military practice.

All this had a relationship with the ancient Italian practice of Ver Sacrum, the Sacred Spring: citizens made the sacred decision to remove the new generation from the territory as soon as it became adults.

Mars welcomed the expelled young people under his tutelage and protected them until they founded a new community.

Animals Consecrated to Mars

According to mythology, the animals consecrated to Mars led the sacrans and their eponyms: a wolf, hirpus, led the Irpini, a woodpecker, picus, the Piceni, while the Mamertines derived their name directly from that of the god.

The legio sacrata, i.e. the Samnite Legion, also called Linteata, was also dedicated to Mars.

Mars in Roman Society

In Roman society he took on a much more important role than his Greek counterpart Ares, probably because he was considered the father of the Roman people and of all Italians in general, as from his union with the vestal Rhea Silvia were born Romulus and Remus, founders of Urbe.

This is why the Romans, among themselves, called themselves the Sons of Mars. His most important descendants, besides the twins, were Pico and Fauno.

Names and Worship of Mars

Mars was venerated with numerous names by the Latins themselves, by the Etruscans and by other Italic and Celtic peoples:

• Maris, Etruscan name from which the name of the Roman god derives;
• Mars, Roman name;
• Marmar;
• Marmor;
• Mamers, name with which he was venerated by the Italic peoples of Oscan lineage;
• Marpiter;
• Marspiter;
• Mavors.

Depictions of Mars

The ancient monuments represent the God Mars in a rather uniform way; he is almost always depicted wearing a helmet, spear or sword and shield, rarely with a scepter; sometimes he is portrayed naked, sometimes with armor and, often, with a cloak over his shoulders.

Sabine Worship of Mars

The ancient Sabines worshiped him under the effigy of a spear called ‘Quiris.

Spread of the cult of Ares

In Greece, the cult of Ares was never so large, except in the city of Thebes, where the god is considered one of the ancestors of the founders of the city.

The city of Sparta is also an exception, where there was a statue with the chained god, a symbol of his indissoluble bond with the city.

During the Roman imperial age, the temple of Ares in the agora of Athens was transformed into a temple dedicated to Mars.

In Roman society, the god Mars acquired much more importance than the conception of the Greek god Ares. He was considered the father of Romulus and Remus, founders of the city of Rome; he is consequently the father of the dynasty and of the Roman people.

The symbolic animals of Ares are the dog and the vulture.

The month that can be traced back to him is March, in which he was sumptuously venerated, since, in the Roman calendar, it was the first month of the year that marked the resumption of military activities after the winter.

The day dedicated to him is Tuesday. The names Marco, Marcello, Martino, the planet Mars, the Marsi people and their territory Martia Antica, today’s Marsica, owe their name to God.

How do you connect with the god Mars in magick?

To connect with Mars energy in your magical practices, start by timing your work to align with Mars’ influence, performing rituals or spells on a Tuesday and during the planetary hour of Mars, which varies daily.

Decorate your altar with red items, iron objects, or symbols of Mars and incorporate candles, stones, and herbs associated with this planet to create a sacred space.

Invoke Mars’ power through chants and invocations, such as:

“Mighty Mars, warrior strong, Grant me strength and courage long.
With fire and iron, lend your might, In battles fought, guide my sight.”

Meditate on the symbol of Mars or visualize a red, fiery light enveloping you, focusing on qualities like strength, determination, and protection.

Engage in spellwork and rituals by creating protection spells with red stones, writing petitions for strength to place under a red candle, and using Mars’ energy to assertively resolve conflicts.

Conclusion

Mars can be a powerful ally to channel his strong energy in our life and our witchy practice. Connect with this deity with the right open and respectful mindset to make the most of it.