Ares and Mars are not the same god: Ares is the Greek god of war as violent, chaotic battle, while Mars is the Roman god of war who also governed agriculture, fertility, and civic order. Though later Roman writers equated them, their original characters and cults differed sharply, and understanding that difference reveals how two cultures viewed warfare itself.
Who Was Ares in Greek Myth?
Ares was the son of Zeus and Hera, but in Greek literature he was rarely honored. Homer’s Iliad portrays him as a bloodthirsty, almost comical figure: he is wounded by Diomedes (with Athena’s help) and shrieks like nine thousand men before fleeing to Olympus. Hesiod’s Theogony lists him among the Olympians but gives him no grand role. His lovers included Aphrodite, wife of Hephaestus, and their affair was exposed in a famous trap set by Hephaestus (told in Homer’s Odyssey and later in Ovid’s Metamorphoses).
Greek cults to Ares were few. He had a temple in Athens near the Areopagus (the “Hill of Ares”), but that hill was more famous as a murder court than as a shrine. In Sparta, however, Ares was revered as a model of military valor, and his sons—like Phobos (Fear) and Deimos (Terror)—embodied the raw emotions of battle. Ares was not a strategist; he was the frenzy of combat itself.
Who Was Mars in Roman Religion?
Mars was one of the most important gods in early Rome, second only to Jupiter. He was the father of Romulus and Remus (according to Livy and other Roman sources), making him the divine ancestor of the Roman people. Unlike Ares, Mars was originally a god of agriculture and spring, protecting fields and herds. His festival in March (Martius) opened the military campaigning season, and his priests, the Salii, performed war dances while carrying sacred shields.
Mars also had a peaceful side: he was invoked to protect crops and cattle, and his epithets included Mars Pater (Father Mars) and Mars Ultor (Mars the Avenger, a title emphasized by Augustus). In Roman art, Mars appears as a dignified, bearded warrior in armor—a stark contrast to the often youthful and disheveled Ares of Greek vases.
Key Differences in Personality and Role
The core difference lies in how each culture viewed war. For the Greeks, war was a necessary evil that brought suffering, and Ares embodied its brutality. The Romans saw war as a sacred duty that secured peace and prosperity, so Mars was a protector and a father figure.
- Violence vs. Order: Ares is impetuous and loves bloodshed for its own sake; Mars is disciplined and fights for the Roman state.
- Agriculture: Mars had a major agricultural role, with festivals like the Ambarvalia (field purification) in his honor; Ares had no such association.
- Status: Ares was often mocked or sidelined in myth; Mars was a central state deity, receiving the October Horse sacrifice after the annual cavalry review.
- Offspring: Ares’ children are mostly personifications of fear and strife; Mars’ children include Romulus, the founder of Rome, and Fama (Rumor).
Why the Romans Equated Them
By the 3rd century BCE, as Rome absorbed Greek culture, the Romans began to identify their gods with Greek counterparts. This process, called interpretatio graeca (or from the Roman side, interpretatio romana), linked Mars with Ares because both were war gods. However, the identification was never complete. Roman writers like Cicero and Ovid sometimes used “Mars” as a translation of “Ares,” but they also preserved distinctly Roman rituals and myths that had no Greek parallel.
For example, the story of Mars and the Vestal Virgin Rhea Silvia, which led to the birth of Romulus, has no Greek equivalent. Similarly, the Lupercalia festival, though later associated with Mars, was originally a fertility rite that predated Greek influence.
How They Appear in Art and Literature
Greek art often shows Ares as a young, beardless warrior, sometimes with a spear and helmet, but he is rarely depicted in action. He appears more often in scenes with Aphrodite, as on the famous François Vase (c. 570 BCE) where he is shown as a charioteer. Roman art, by contrast, depicts Mars as a mature, bearded figure in full armor, often with a wolf or a woodpecker—both animals sacred to him. The statue of Mars Ultor in the Forum of Augustus (c. 2 BCE) set a standard image that persisted for centuries.
In literature, Homer’s Ares is a comic foil, while Virgil’s Aeneid presents Mars as a majestic, almost benevolent force. The difference is not just in the gods themselves but in the genres: Greek epic and tragedy focus on human suffering, while Roman epic celebrates the founding of a divinely ordained empire.
Common Misconceptions
One common myth (in the modern sense) is that Ares and Mars are simply the same god with different names. That is true only from a later syncretic perspective. Another misconception is that Ares was a weak god because he was often defeated in myths. In reality, he was a formidable warrior, but the Greeks did not glorify him because they saw war as a disaster. The Romans, who were more militaristic, naturally elevated their war god.
Another error is to assume that Mars was only a war god. His agricultural role was so important that some scholars believe he was originally a vegetation deity who only later became associated with war. This is supported by his festivals in spring (March) and autumn (October), which align with planting and harvesting.
How to Choose Which to Reference
If you are writing about Greek mythology, use Ares; if about Roman, use Mars. When discussing the god in a broader context, you can say “Ares (Mars)” or “Mars (Ares)” to clarify. For a modern audience, Mars is often more familiar because of the planet, but Ares is more common in fantasy and video games. In academic writing, always specify which tradition you are referencing, as the two are not interchangeable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Ares and Mars the same god?
In later Roman times, they were equated, but originally they were distinct. Ares was the Greek god of war’s savage violence, while Mars was a Roman god of war and agriculture. The Romans adopted Greek myths and renamed the gods, but they also kept their own traditions.
Why was Ares hated by the Greeks?
The Greeks did not universally hate him, but he was often disliked because he represented the destructive, irrational side of war. In contrast, Athena represented strategic warfare and was more honored. Ares was also an adulterer (with Aphrodite) and was mocked by the other gods.
Was Mars more important than Ares?
Yes, Mars was one of the most important Roman gods, while Ares was a minor figure in Greek religion. Mars was the father of Romulus, the founder of Rome, and received major state festivals. Ares had few temples and was rarely worshipped.
What are the symbols of Ares and Mars?
Both are associated with the spear and helmet, but Ares is also linked with the vulture and the dog, while Mars has the wolf and the woodpecker. Mars is sometimes shown with a tropaeum (a trophy of captured arms), while Ares is often depicted with Aphrodite.
Did the Romans have a different myth for Mars?
Yes, the Romans had their own myths, such as the story of Mars and Rhea Silvia, which resulted in the birth of Romulus and Remus. This myth is not Greek. Also, Mars had a unique festival called the Equirria (horse races) held in his honor.
Which god is the planet named after?
The planet Mars is named after the Roman god, not the Greek Ares. The Romans named the red planet after their god of war because of its blood-like color. The Greek name for the planet was Pyroeis (fiery), but the Roman name stuck.
Related
- Trident of Poseidon: Myth, Meaning, and Power
- Mjolnir in Mythology: Origins, Powers, and Symbolism
- Aegis in Mythology: Zeus and Athena’s Shield
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