Roman Mythology and Mars

Nick Brungo
Roman mythology is the series of traditions and stories relating to Rome's origin and religion.
Romans viewed their traditional stories as historical, even though they usually contain
supernatural and hard to believe content. The stories often pertain to politics and morality, and
guide individual Romans to fulfill their personal responsibilities in the community. Heroism is a
common theme of these stories. Roman Mythology was heavily influenced by Greek mythology.
The Romans identified their own gods with the Greek gods, and simply put them under different
names. The Romans also reinterpreted stories about Greek gods using the Roman counterparts.
One of the earliest Stories relating to the beginning of Rome was Virgil in his Aeneid, a tale that
follows the Trojan Warrior Aeneas on his travels. In the story, with the assistance of his mother,
the goddess Venus, Aeneas escaped Troy with his father and a few of his comrades before the
city was completely lost to the Greeks. With the help of Venus, the Trojans leave the fallen city
and sail to Italy, where it was said that Aeneas would create a city. Juno, the wife of Jupiter,
constantly interferes with Aeneas throughout his travels. Aeneas lands at Cumae, where he
consults Sibyl, an oracle, who then leads him into Hades where he encounters his recently
deceased father who tells him of the great city his descendants would found. This Roman story is
an example of a Greek story being reinterpreted by the Romans. This story in particular has a lot
of similarities to the Greek epic, The Odyssey.
The descendants of Aeneas became the founders of his prophesized city: Rome. According to the
story, Romulus and Remus were the sons of Mars, the god of war, and Rhea Silvia. When Rhea
Ailvia bore the two children, they were thrown into the river Tiber. A flood caused them to drift
ashore and they were rescued by a she-wolf, the sacred animal of Mars.

Years later, the two brothers become leaders in their community, with Remus ultimately being
thrown in the kings dungeon. After Romulus rescued his brother, the boys learned of their true
identity. Together they founded a city, however, Remus is killed in an argument over the naming
rights to the city, so the city became Rome. Romulus would rule Rome for the next forty years.
MARS: THE GOD OF WAR
Mars was the Roman god of war and second only to Jupiter, the king of the gods. Although most
of the stories where Mars was involved were taken from the Greek god of war Ares and simply
reworded, Mars still had some distinct Roman features. Mars was considered to be more calm
and collective than his more impulsive and violent Greek counterpart, Ares. Mars was also
looked at as a more noble and honorable figure by the Romans. As he was the main defender of
the Roman way of life, many important festivals were held in his name. He was also associated
with the wolf and the woodpecker.
One uniquely Roman myth involving Mars was his marriage to Anna Perenna. The story begins
with him falling in love with Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and crafts, who was unimpressed
and rejected his advances. Wondering how to impress He got the help of Anna Perenna, the
goddess of the New Year and Time. However, Anna Perenna wanted Mars for herself, so she
disguised herself as Minerva and tricked him into marrying her. This is commemorated on the
Roman Ides of March.
The month of March was named after Mars. Mars' specially dedicated priests, the flamen
Martialis, carried out important ceremonies which were held in honor of the god in March and
October. These ceremonies were usually connected to military campaigns. The first festival of
the year was on the 27th of February with the first Equirria. Then here was the feriae Marti

festival, held on the 1st of March, the second Equirria on March 14th, the agonium Martiale on
the 17th, the Quinquatrus on the 19th, and the Tubilustrium on the 23rd of. Most of these
festivals were related to war and warfare. One important ritual was performed by the soon to
depart commander of the army, who shook the sacred spears of the god. The general then
shouted Mars vigilia and asked for an easy victory.