In Mars mythology, the Moon is not a single, fixed figure: the Roman god Mars had no dedicated lunar counterpart, but the Greeks associated Ares (his equivalent) with the goddess Selene in only a few late myths, while the planet Mars’s two moons, Phobos and Deimos, were named after the god’s sons in Greek mythology. The confusion arises because Mars (the planet) has moons, but the god Mars himself has no direct lunar myth—his mythology centers on war, not the sky’s night lights. This article clarifies the actual role of the Moon in Mars’s mythology, explains the origins of Phobos and Deimos, and distinguishes between the god, the planet, and the lunar associations that sometimes appear in ancient texts.
Who Is Mars in Mythology?
Mars was the Roman god of war, second only to Jupiter in importance in the Roman pantheon. He was originally an agricultural deity—protecting fields and crops—before evolving into a war god, a transformation that reflects Rome’s own shift from farming community to military power. In Greek mythology, his counterpart was Ares, but the two were not identical: Ares was often portrayed as a brutal, despised figure in Greek literature, while Mars was a revered father of the Roman people, especially through his legendary son Romulus, the founder of Rome. Mars’s myths rarely involve the Moon; his stories focus on battles, affairs (notably with Venus), and his role as a guardian of the state.
The Moon in Greek and Roman Myth: Selene and Luna
The Moon in Greek mythology is Selene, a Titan goddess who drove her chariot across the night sky. In Roman mythology, she is Luna, often identified with Selene but also with Diana (Artemis) in some contexts. Neither Selene nor Luna has any significant connection to Mars or Ares. The Moon’s myths involve Endymion (a mortal shepherd loved by Selene), her siblings Helios (Sun) and Eos (Dawn), and her role in lunar eclipses. Mars does not appear in these stories. The only overlap is a late, obscure myth where Ares and Aphrodite (Venus) are caught in an affair by Hephaestus (Vulcan), and the Sun tells him—but the Moon is not involved. So, in the core mythology, the Moon and Mars are separate entities with no shared narrative.
Why Does Mars Have Moons? The Astronomical Connection
The planet Mars has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, discovered in 1877 by American astronomer Asaph Hall. Their names come from Greek mythology: Phobos (Fear) and Deimos (Terror), who were sons of Ares (Mars) and Aphrodite (Venus) in Homer’s Iliad. In the epic, they accompany their father in battle, driving his chariot and spreading fear. This is the only direct link between Mars and “moons” in mythology, but it’s a modern naming choice, not an ancient myth. The ancient Greeks and Romans did not know Mars had moons—they were invisible to the naked eye—so there is no ancient myth about them. The names were chosen by Hall, following the convention of naming planetary features after mythological figures.
Phobos and Deimos: The Sons of Ares
Phobos and Deimos appear in Greek mythology as personifications of fear and terror, respectively. In Homer’s Iliad, they are described as the sons of Ares and Aphrodite, and they accompany their father in battle. For example, in Book 15, Ares is said to have “his son Phobos” with him, and in other passages, Deimos is mentioned as a companion. They are not major characters—they have no individual myths—but they serve as symbolic attendants to the war god. In Roman mythology, Mars had similar attendants, but they were called Pavor (Panic) and Terror, though these are not as well-attested. The moons’ names, therefore, come from these minor Greek deities, not from any lunar goddess.
Common Misconceptions: Mars as a Moon God
A frequent misconception is that Mars, as a god, had a lunar aspect or was associated with the Moon in some way. This likely stems from the fact that the planet Mars has moons, so people assume the god must have a lunar connection. However, in ancient mythology, Mars/Ares is never linked to the Moon. His domains are war, agriculture (in early Rome), and sometimes the spring season (the month of March is named after him). The Moon’s domain is night, fertility, and the passage of time—a completely separate sphere. Another misconception is that the Moon was named after Mars’s wife or daughter, but Mars has no wife in the major myths; his consort is Venus (Aphrodite), and his children include Romulus and Remus (in Roman legend) and Phobos and Deimos (in Greek myth). None of these are lunar deities.
The Month of March and Lunar Calendars
Mars’s connection to the month of March might seem lunar because months are based on the Moon’s cycle, but this is coincidental. The Roman calendar originally began in March, named after Mars, but the month’s length and its position were not tied to lunar worship. The Roman calendar was lunisolar, but Mars’s festivals (like the Feriae Marti) were not specifically lunar. In contrast, lunar deities like Luna had their own festivals, such as the Augurium Salutis, which involved the Moon. So, while March is named after Mars, it does not imply a lunar association. The Moon’s phases were tracked for agricultural purposes, which Mars originally oversaw, but that is a functional link, not a mythological one.
Comparisons: Mars vs. Other Gods with Lunar Ties
To understand Mars’s lack of lunar connection, compare him to gods who do have lunar aspects. For example, the Greek goddess Hecate is associated with the Moon, crossroads, and magic; the Egyptian god Khonsu is a moon god; and the Hindu god Chandra is the moon deity. These figures have clear lunar myths. Mars has none. Even in syncretic Roman religion, where gods were often merged with foreign deities, Mars was identified with Celtic gods like Camulus, but none of these had lunar roles. The only possible exception is a late Roman inscription that equates Mars with the Greek god Ares, who in some Orphic hymns is given cosmic attributes, but the Moon is not among them. Thus, Mars stands out as a war deity with no lunar dimension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the Romans worship a moon god named Mars?
No. The Romans worshipped Luna as the moon goddess, and Mars was exclusively a war and agriculture god. There is no evidence of a lunar Mars in Roman religion. The confusion arises from the planet’s moons, which were named much later.
Why are Mars’s moons named Phobos and Deimos?
They are named after the sons of Ares (Mars) in Greek mythology, as described in Homer’s Iliad. Asaph Hall, who discovered them in 1877, chose these names because they were fitting for a war god’s moons—fear and terror.
Is there any myth about Mars and the Moon together?
No. In ancient Greek and Roman myths, Mars/Ares and the Moon (Selene/Luna) never interact. They belong to different mythological spheres. Any modern story linking them is a later invention.
What is the difference between Ares and Mars regarding the Moon?
There is no difference—neither has a lunar connection. Ares and Mars are equivalent war gods, but their myths do not involve the Moon. The only lunar-related figures in their stories are their sons Phobos and Deimos, who are not lunar deities.
Did the ancient Greeks know about Mars’s moons?
No. The moons are too small and faint to be seen with the naked eye. They were only discovered in 1877 with a telescope. Therefore, ancient myths could not have included them.
Conclusion
In summary, the Moon has no role in Mars mythology. The god Mars/Ares is a war deity, and the Moon is a separate celestial goddess. The only connection is the modern naming of the planet’s moons after his mythological sons. Understanding this distinction clarifies why Mars, the planet, has moons, but Mars, the god, does not have a lunar myth. For anyone curious about the night sky’s mythology, the Moon’s stories belong to Selene and Luna, not to the god of war.
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