Greek vs Roman
Ares vs Mars: are they the same god?
Short answer: Roman writers identify Mars with the Greek Ares, and both are gods of war. But the surviving sources give them different standing. In Homer, Zeus tells Ares he hates him more than any other god on Olympus. In Roman tradition, Mars is named as the father of Romulus and Remus, and the month of March is named after him.
At a glance
| Ares (Greek) | Mars (Roman) | |
|---|---|---|
| Parents | Zeus and Hera (Hesiod, Theogony 921–923) | Named as father of Romulus and Remus in Rome's foundation story (Livy 1.4) |
| How the sources treat him | Rebuked by Zeus in the Iliad, wounded by a mortal and restrained by Athena | Honoured by Ovid as the god the month of March is named for; addressed in his own voice in the Fasti |
| Main sources used here | Hesiod, Homer | Livy, Ovid |
Ares in the Greek sources
Hesiod lists Ares among the children of Zeus and Hera, together with Hebe and Eileithyia (Theogony 921–923).
The Iliad shows him as an unpopular fighter. In book 5, Athena tells the hero Diomedes not to fear Ares and to strike him; Diomedes wounds the god, and Ares goes to Zeus to complain. Zeus answers that he hates him more than any other god in Olympus, because he is always fighting and making mischief (Iliad 5.855–891). In book 15, Ares announces he will go to avenge his son's death even if Zeus's lightning strikes him down, and Athena takes his helmet, shield and spear and holds him back (Iliad 15.113–142).
Mars in the Roman sources
The Roman historian Livy tells of the Vestal Rhea Silvia, who gave birth to twin sons and named Mars as their father. Livy adds that she may have believed it, or may have named a god because the fault seemed less shameful that way (Livy 1.4.2). The twins are Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome.
Ovid opens the third book of his calendar poem, the Fasti, by addressing Mars and saying that the month of March takes its name from him (Fasti 3.1–4). Later in the same book he asks the god why Roman matrons celebrate his festival, and gives Mars the answer in his own voice, where he speaks of Romulus as his son (Fasti 3.167–200).
What the difference means
These are literary passages, not a full account of how each god was worshipped. They do show that Greek epic keeps Ares at a distance, while Roman storytelling ties Mars to the origin of the city. The Roman state cult of Mars, and how widely Ares was worshipped in Greece, need other kinds of evidence. For the full profile see Ares / Mars.
Sources
- Hesiod, Theogony 921–923: read the passage
- Homer, Iliad 5.855–891: read the passage; 15.113–142: read the passage
- Livy 1.4: read the passage
- Ovid, Fasti 3.1–4 and 3.167–200: read the passage (Latin)
More: all Greek and Roman god names compared, Athena vs Minerva.