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Mars, a translation of Ares, is the ancient Roman god of
War, and the most important Roman god next to Jupiter.
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The names we use today for the planets are Latin god-name equivalents
of the earlier Greek god-names, which the Greeks originally matched
to the god-names of the pioneering stargazers of antiquity, the
Babylonians. The Babylonians called Mars Nergal, the star of death.
Mars, a translation of Ares, is the ancient Roman god of War, and
the most important Roman god next to Jupiter.
The planet is sometimes called the Red Planet because of its fiery
red appearance, which also suggests the energy and action of war.
The Roman god Mars was a god of agriculture before becoming associated
with Ares, the Greek god of war. Mars seems to have served an overall
function by promoting fertility, protecting the lands of an agricultural
people who were often obliged to go to war, and engendering a warlike
or bellicose spirit to help them in war, as well as serving as their
protector during times of war.
Mars has been associated traditionally with a variety of mythical
life forms. Beings such as Martians or 'men from Mars' have appeared
frequently in twentieth century writing and films. The name of the
month of March derives from Mars.
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