Contributed by Antonia Traiana Severa
God Mars is
one of the Dii Consentes, a group of twelve gods that were
especially honored by the ancient Romans.
Background
The
god Mars, also known as Mamurius, Mavors, Mamers, and Marmar, is
one of the most prominent and worshipped gods of the Roman pantheon.
An indigenous Italic deity, Mars was mentioned as a chthonic (earth-god)
deity associated with fertility, vegetation, and protection of cattle.
Mars may have been the original guardian of Rome Who safeguarded
the boundaries, fields, cattle, and agriculture, and later became
the patron of war. Mars’ martial indigitamentia (aspect)
may have evolved from the farmer’s cultivation of the lands and
the impending need for battle to keep and protect them from harm.
Mars, together with Quirinus and Iuppiter (Jupiter) formed
the original Capitoline Triad (triad of gods on Capitoline
Hill) which later, under Etruscan influence, came to include
Iuppiter, Iuno (Juno) and Minerva.
The
divine functions of war may have been initially linked to early
Quirinus-previously the Sabine god of war Who presided over the
Quirinal Hill, and later became more closely affixed to Mars Who
ruled over Latin Palentine Hill. The war-like nature of Mars
had increasingly predominated His agricultural qualities; in contrast
to the once martial Quirinus, Whose characteristics had become progressively
urbanized. Their mutual aspects had evolved with the needs
of Rome. The association of Mars with Quirinus in early Rome
was also evident in the formation of the Salii (from the
word salire "to dance"), two assemblies of twelve dancing
priests that served both Mars and Quirinus. The Salii
were divided into two colleges, the Collini and the Palatini,
both of whom were dedicated to Mars. Yet the Salii
Palatini were especially devoted to Mars Gradivus
("He that walks in battle") while it is believed that the Salii
Collini were formerly solely identified with Quirinus.
Both colleges maintained their Curia Saliorum (headquarters)
on the Palatine and Quirinal Hills respectively. Though, the
Salii were prominent in Rome, the sodalitae (religious
brotherhoods) served several deities in other regions of central
Italy, including Tivoli where they were linked to Hercules.
The Salian priests
were a great spectacle for Romans during the festivals of Mars as
they leaped and danced their way through the streets of Rome.
At various points during their route the Salii would halt
and, led by the praesul (head dancer and chief Salii),
perform a ritual song (Carmen Saliare) and dance (including
the Tripudium, a rhythmic dance performed in triple time).
They wore sacred military armor and weaponry including swords, while
carrying the twelve ancilia (sacred shields) which Plutarch
relates were named so for their form, "curvilinear", and most likely
resembled a figure eight. Eleven of the ancilia
were duplicates of the original which had, according to legend,
fallen from the sky during the reign of King Numa as a gift from
Iuppiter to King Numa. The archaic religious processions
of the Salii could have been a type of war dance with the
priests noisily banging their swords on the ancilia to ward
off evil spirits from the fields, while their leaps represented
the desired height of the coming crops. It is possible that
Mars was depicted in His native protective role as guardian of the
fields, yet clearly His battle indigitamentia was also celebrated
and was especially prevalent during the Empire.
Mars Gradivus
was the indigitamentia invoked when war was declared at Rome.
The consul responsible would rattle the hastae Martiae (lances
of Mars), then strike his ancilia and hasta (spear))
while shouting ‘Mars vigila’ ("Mars, awaken!"). The
Roman army trained in preparation for war at the Campus
Martius (the field of Mars) located just outside the city
wall and just before battle, they gathered at the Temple of Mars
Gradivus to honor the warrior god. Mars Gradivus
preceded the militia, guiding them to victory accompanied by
Fuga and Timor, Who infuse dread and fleeing in His opponents.
Mars Gradivus was also accompanied by
Bellona, the Roman goddess
of war-sometimes identified as Mars’ wife, sister or daughter.
The Roman standards, sacred to the every Roman soldier, too, heralded
the army. They manifested good fortune and strength, were
visibly prominent at all times and aptly stored at the temple of
Mars Ultor ("the avenger") at Rome.
Mars had several temples
and altars at Rome that were, with the exception of the Temple of
Mars Ultor, located outside the pomerium (city boundary).
The temple of Mars Gradivus ("He who precedes the army in
battle") was located on the Via Appia (Appian Way) and commemorated
on 1 June, 388 BCE. The temple of Mars Ultor, located
on the Forum Augusti, was built by Augustus Caesar and commemorated
on 1 August, 2 BCE. There may possibly have been another
prior temple to Mars Ultor on the Capitoline Hill.
The Ara Martis (altar of Mars) was located in the Campus
Martius and was served by the flamen Martialis (main
priest of Mars). It was here that the army was drilled and
athletes were trained. The Regia (royal dwelling) was
located in the Forum Romanum and housed the hastae Martiae
(lances of Mars) and the ancilia. The Temple of Mars
Invictus, located in the Circo Flaminio (Circus Flaminius),
was dedicated by D. Junius Brutus Callaicus during his consulship
in 133 BCE.
March (Martius),
the first month of the lunar calendar, was named after Mars and
the entire month was dedicated to Him. The festivals reflected
a purification and
regeneration of the arms and fields, marking a time when farmers
had to think of cultivating and protecting their lands. The
efficacy of Mars’ divine aid was much needed in preparation for
the seasonal crop growth and upcoming military campaigns, as wars
often began or were renewed in the spring. 1 March was
the lunar calendar’s New Year’s Day, and may have also been Mars’
birthday. The festival of Quinquatrus (named for its length of five consecutive
days) commenced on 19 March when the ancilia of the Salii
and the weapons of the whole army were purified. On 23 March,
the Romans venerated Mars during the Tubilustrium, a cleansing
ceremony for the trumpets used in sacred rites and the instruments
of the entire army. A subsequent purification rite was performed
on 19 October during the Armilustrium, and the Salii,
commemorating
the return of the legions in the fall, made their final procession
through the streets of Rome. It signified the end of
the military campaign season when arma (arms) and ancilia
were purified and laid to rest for the winter.
How do we relate to Mars today?
Mars is still
the essence of the god from antiquity. He is still the
captivating aggressor, the rouser, and the protagonist of
destiny; breathtakingly candid in His purpose and deliberate in
His bounty. Mars personifies a vigorous energy that carries with
it its own reproductive weight, immersed in singular ambition,
and seldom outdone. He is the quintessential model of male
sexuality; the catalyst for creation Who leaves little doubt
that our perpetuation is imminent and our survival inevitable.
Yet His artful passion is lucid; a flowing expression steeped in
honorific intent and delivered with remarkably unbiased
conveyance. The expression of our basic needs remains the one
true constant among all living beings. When we peel back the
layers of aspirations and ideals, we reach the crux of the human
race with uncanny fidelity; the instinctual drives that have
served us so well. It is here, at this center that we find Mars,
ceaselessly reminding us that no matter how far we venture from
this place, the road back is always nearer than we realize.
How do we honor Mars today?
Mars
represents the instinctive nature still evident in all species:
that of survival and protection. In antiquity, Mars’ reigning
aspects were interwoven into a society that understood a
definable application of pursuit and preservation. The Romans
recognized the necessity of this sequence as the occurring truth
behind any deliberate progress. These enduring principles are at
the very heart of Perpituitas (see
Virtues page); qualities attributed to our role as the
caretakers of our posterity. In His warrior aspect we associate
Mars with iron, but an iron will is of the same caliber.
Protection has always been our gift to those we love, and a duty
to ourselves. Though we no longer spend our days in the fields,
the fruits of our labors still determine the quality of our
life. Pray to Mars when you need to shift into another gear, to
bring your purpose from wishful pondering to fruition and
culmination. Look to Mars when your spirit needs reawakening and
you find yourself lost in the cycle of delay, needing to summon
up the courage to act. When the mundane begins to chisel your
determination into quiet resignation, let Mars hear your call to
arms. His still powerful voice speaks volumes to all who listen.
Mars continues to provoke and ignite while craftily providing us
with His earthly wisdom; those universal gifts of our own nature
which allow us to fully embrace our life’s experience and remain
secure in our duration.
Aspects:
Mars
Gradivus (He that walks in battle), Mars Invictus (Unconquered Mars),
Mars
Pater (Mars the Father), Mars Silvanus, Mars Ultor (Mars the Avenger)
Temples at Rome:
Ad Martis
(dedicated on June 1, 388 BCE), Circus Flaminius (dedicated
by Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus in 133 BCE), Forum Martis
(dedicated on 12 May, 2 BCE by Augustus Caesar)
Main festivals:
Equirria
(Festival of Horse Racing): 27 February and 14 March, Festival
of Mars Pater (Father of Romulus and Remus): 1 March, Quinquatrus:
19 March, Tubilustrium: 23 March and 23 May, Festival
of Mars Invictus: 14 May, October Equus: October 15,
Armilustrium: 19 October
Month(s) sacred to:
March and October
Offerings:
Laurel, wine, spelt cakes, bacon fat, meat (see
Recipes for Offerings
page)
Common prayers to
Mars in antiquity were for:
Agricultural
fertility, prevention of diseases and bad water, safety of shepherds
and flocks, health
Rite:
Ritus
Romanus (head covered)
Hymn to Mars
(Orphic)
Oh! Help us, ye Household
Gods!
Oh! Help us, ye Household Gods!
Oh! Help us, ye Household Gods!
And let not bane
and bale, O Marmor Mars, assail more folk!
And let not bane and bale, O Marmor Mars, assail more folk!
And let not bane and bale, O Marmor Mars, assail more folk!
Be full satisfied,
fierce Mars, Leap the Threshold! Hah! Beat the ground!
Be full satisfied, fierce Mars, Leap the Threshold! Hah! Beat the ground!
Be full satisfied,fierce Mars, Leap the Threshold! Hah! Beat the ground!
By turns address
ye all the Half-Gods.
By turns address ye all the Half-Gods.
By turns address ye all the Half-Gods.
Oh! Help us, Marmor!
Oh! Help us, Marmor!
Oh! Help us, Marmor!
Bound bound and bound
again, bound and bound again!
Prayers from Antiquity (link - coming soon)
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