Mars
The fourth planet from the Sun, named after Mars, the Roman god of war identified with the Greek Ares, because its reddish colour suggested blood and conflict
The Meaning of Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, named after Mars, the Roman god of war, because its distinctive reddish colour reminded ancient observers of blood on a battlefield. The Greeks called the planet Ares and associated its colour with the violence and carnage of war. Mars owes its red appearance to iron oxide (rust) covering much of its surface — the entire planet is essentially rusted iron dust. Ancient Babylonian astronomers tracked the planet and associated it with Nergal, their god of war and pestilence. The planet's two small moons, discovered in 1877, were named Phobos (Fear) and Deimos (Terror) after the mythological sons of Ares who accompanied their father into battle. Mars has held a special place in human imagination because its characteristics — a rocky surface, thin atmosphere, polar ice caps, and seasonal changes — make it the most Earth-like planet in the solar system. The possibility of life on Mars has fuelled speculation since the nineteenth century, when Giovanni Schiaparelli observed what he called "canali" (channels), mistranslated as "canals," suggesting artificial construction.
Parents
None recorded
Symbols
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
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