Mars Ultor
Mars was the Roman God of War, second only to Jupiter in the Roman pantheon. Although most of the myths involving the god were borrowed from Ares, the Greek God of War, Mars nevertheless had some features which were uniquely Roman. Considered more level-headed than the often impulsive and disruptive Ares, Mars was also seen as a more virtuous figure by the more martial-oriented Romans. As a protector of Rome and the Roman way of life, and as a defender of city borders and frontiers, important festivals connected to warfare were held in his honour. The month of Martius (March) was named after Mars.
Examples
References
- Photo: Statue of Mars from the Forum of Nerva, second century AD, based on an Augustan-era original that in turn used a Hellenistic Greek model of the fourth century BC, Capitoline Museums.
- Mars at the Ancient History Encyclopedia (Retrieved on October 19, 2017).